UNIVERSITY  FARM 


SB373 


UCO  LIBRARY 


V  * 


•  1KOUP  OF  FINE  SUMMER,  AUTUMN  AND  WINTER  PEARS. 

.  >-tf>f  ami  <lr(iun  hi/  Mr.  L.  Btrckman*. 

No.  1.  Niu».  No.  2,  FULTON. 

No.  :<,  BKCRRK  n' AMAMS.  No.  4,  DOYKNNI  »'Ai.EN<  ON. 

No.  r>,  ST.  NITIIOLAS;  OR  DUCHKSSK  D'ORLKASS.  No.  6,  KOSTIKZER. 


CULTURE. 


A    MANUAL 


PROPAGATION,   PLANTING,   CULTIVATION, 
AND  MANAGEMENT 


THE    PEAR    TREE. 


DESCRIPTIONS  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS    OF  THE  MOST  PRODUCTIVE 

OF  THE  FINER  VARIETIES,  AND  SELECTIONS   OF  KINDS 

MOST  PROFITABLY  GROWN  FOR  MARKET. 


THOS.     W.    FIELD 


THE  golden-dropping  Pear,  the  reddening  glow 
Upon  the  cheek  of  Beauty,  and  the  Peach, 
Hnve  common  oource  and  end.     The  Divst 
We  till,  we  are.     The  nodding  flower,  the  Elm, 
Aj-chirig  in  cloisters  and  in  vaulted  ai»le», 
Are  man,  or  boast,  or  worm,  in  other  forma. 


No  marble  dumb,  or  crumbling  tomb  shall  rent 
Their  p»le  chill  wnlls  o'er  me.     The  tree  I  plan 
Shall  monument  my  dufit — itoelf  ilie  tree, 
Refined  in  leaf,  and  fruit,  and  flower:  that  when 
The  immaterial  pnrt  puts  m«ttor  on 
Again,  it  is  more  fit  for  Heav«n. 


A.   0     MOORE.    AGRICULTURAL  BOOK    PUBLISHER, 

140    FULTON    STREET. 


fcntered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1858, 

BY    A.  O.  MOOKE, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  3 1  w  fork. 


is      00}t  is 


TO      MY      FRIEND 


O  TJ  I  S       E_      B  Eli  O  Kl  3^  A.  3NT  S, 


MASK   OF   AFFECTION  AND   RESPECT. 


THE   AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


THE  pleasure  with  which  I  have,  for  several  years, 
pursued  the  labor  of  collecting  and  arranging  the  matter 
of  this  Book,  melts  away,  as  I  approach  the  tribunal  which 
is  to  pronounce  upon  the  result  of  that  labor.  The  Public 
which  an  author  fears  most  is,  after  all,  very  small — it  is 
those  of  his  own  craft,  who  will  easily  discover  his  failure  ; 
and  it  is  precisely  that  small  Public  whose  favor  I  am 
most  anxious  to  deserve.  Cardinal  DE  RETZ  once  said : 
"He  who  is  in  good  repute  among  his  own  order,  can 
not  easily  be  overthrown." 

It  is  from  intelligent  Pomologists  that  I  shall  receive 
censure  with  the  most  humility,  and  praise  with  the  most 
gratification  ;  and  it  was  in  hope  of  earning  the  latter  that 
I  have  oegun  and  completed  this  work. 

There  is  so  little  that  is  really  original  in  any  work, 
that  the  unguarded  and  jealous  critic,  in  reviewing  some 
humble  author,  is  in  imminent  danger  of  launching  his  bolt 
at  some  great  and  standard  authority.  When  charged, 
by  a  critic  of  such  rank,  with  imperfections,  I  shall 
only  be  able  to  answer :  "  Sir,  the  best  Pomologists 
have  contributed  the  most  perfect  results  of  their  investi- 
gations to  this  work ;  and  the  insensible  plagiarism,  by 
which  another's  idea  is  reproduced  in  my  brain,  ought  not 
to  create  prejudice  against  the  idea,"  So  much  of  what 
is  excellent  in  this  work  may,  by  long  residence  in  my 
own  brain,  seem  to  have  had  its  origin  there,  that  it  would 


VI  PREFACE. 

be  vain  to  attempt,  at  this  late  hour,  a  restitution  of  ideas 
to  the  proper  owners.  When  known  or  recollected,  the 
authority  whose  matter  has  been  quoted  is  noticed  in 
the  body  of  the  work. 

It  requires  to  be  distinctly  stated,  that  the  plan  of  this 
book  does  not  admit  of  that  extensive  description  of 
varieties  which  would  be  desired  by  an  amateur  of  long 
experience  in  the  cultivation  of  the  Pear.  Its  design  is 
to  answer,  in  a  clear  and  intelligible  manner,  the  oil- 
repeated  questions  of  the  novice  :  "  What  kinds  of  Pear 
Trees  can  I  plant  most  profitably  ? — and  how  shall  I  treat 
them,  to  insure  a  return  of  the  investment  ?" 

The  Author  has  indulged  no  higher  ambition  than  to 
answer  these  queries  satisfactorily — and  does  not  claim  the 
ability  to  instruct  those  experienced  Pomologists,  whose 
lives  have  been  spent  in  patient  investigation  of  the  most 
minute  phenomena  attending  the  Propagation,  the  De- 
velopment, and  the  Fruiting  of  the  Pear  Tree. 

In  constant  communication  with  Horticulturists,  the 
want  of  a  Manual  of  Pear  Culture,  so  often  suggested  by 
them,  originated  in  my  mind  the  idea  of  collating  the 
experience  of  the  best  cultivators  ;  and  stimulated  by  my 
own  hearty  love  of  the  subject,  I  have  executed  the  work 
now  offered  to  the  lovers  of  that  noble  fruit. 

If  it  shall  result  in  a  more  intelligent  treatment  of  the 
beautiful  but  dumb  companions  of  the  Horticulturist, 
and  thus  obviate  much  of  that  disappointment  which  has 
flowed  from  ignorance  of  the  peculiar  requirements  of 
the  Pear  Tree,  and  of  the  varieties  to  be  selected,  the  Book 
will  have  performed  the  office  for  which  it  was  written ; 
and  the  Author  will  not  regret  his  work. 


CONTENTS. 


PART    I. 

Preparation  of  the  Soil — Draining — Plowing  and  Cropping  the  Ground 
— Trenching — Manuring — Digging  Holes — Digging  Trees— Soils  for 
Pears — Transporting. 

PART     II. 

The  Seedling — Planting  Seed — Obtaining  new  Seedling  Varieties — Hy- 
bridizing—  Leaf  Blight  of  Seedlings — Propagation  by  Layers  and 
Cuttings — Quince  Stocks — Cost  of  preparing  Ground  and  Planting — 
Manures  for  Nursery  Stocks — Methods  of  Grafting — Budding. 


PART       III. 

Selecting  Pear  Trees  from  Nursery — Causes  of  the  Failure  of  Nursery 
Trees — Proper  Age  for  Planting — Pruning  and  Root  Pruning  before 
Planting — Replanting  the  Pear  to  form  Fibrous  Roots — Heeling  in — 
Treatment  of  Withered  Trees— Planting — Plan  of  arranging  Pear 
Grounds  —  Cultivation  of  the  Pear  Orchard  —  Mulching  —  Special 
Manures  for  the  Pear — Invigorating  Old  Trees — Grating  Large 
Trees. 

PALT     IV. 

Office  of  the  Quince-stock — Causes  of  the  failure  of  the  Pear  on  the 
Quince — Advantage  of  the  Quince  Stock — Rules  for  Growing  the 
Pear  on  Quince — Double  Working. 

(     vii     ) 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 


PART      V. 

PRUNING.  —  Advantages  of  Pyramidal  Shape  —  Approach  Grafting — 
Pruning  to  a  Bud — Renewing  the  Wood  of  old  Dwarfs — Summer 
Pinching — Fruit  Spurs,  and  Treatment — Forms  of  Training — Rules 
for  Pruning — Root  Pruning. 

PART    VI. 

DISEASES  OF  THE  PEAR.— Winter  or  Frozen-Sap  Blight — Signs  of  the 
Disease— Insect-Blight— Leaf-Blight. 


PART     VII. 

INSECTS  INJURIOUS  TO  THE  PEAR. — Scolytus  pyri — Scale  Insect— The 
Pear  Slug — Caterpillar,  Canker,  Worm,  &c. — Means  of  destroying. 


PART     VIII. 

VARIETIES.  —  Conditions  which  affect  the  Quality  of  Fruit  —  Terms 
relating  to  Quality  —  Qualities  required  for  Market  Cultivation — Vari- 
eties for  Market  Cultivation  to  be  grown  on  Pear  Stocks — Varieties 
that  may  be  grown  on  the  Quince. 


PART     IX. 

GATHERING,  MARKETING,  AND  FRUIT-ROOMS. — Soils  as  affecting  Quality 
of  Pears — Thinning  Fruit — Gathering — Marketing  Pears — Coloring 
and  Ripening  of  Summer  and  Autumn  Pears — Ripening  of  Winter 
Pears — Fruit  Rooms— Mr.  SCHOOLET'S  Plan  of  Fruit-Room — Cata- 
logue of  Native  Varieties  —  Catalogue  of  Foreign  Varieties  and 
Synonyms. 


PEAR     CULTURE. 


"WHILE  revolution  and  conquest  were  disturbing  tho 
equilibrium  of  the  political  world,  during  the  last 
twenty  years,  bringing  dread  and  terror  in  their  san- 
guinary train,  another  revolution  was  progressing, 
more  enduring — as  it  was  productive  of  happiness, 
instead  of  misery. 

This  was,  the  revolution  in  the  culture  and  produc- 
tion of  everything  which  the  generous  earth  yields  to 
man's  cultivation ;  but  more  particularly  manifested 
in  the  propagation  and  perfection  of  fruits. 

Our  fathers  required  the  whole  of  their  long  lives 
to  eat  of  the  fruit  of  the  tree  they  planted.  But  by 
the  new  arboriculture,  the  youth  may  pluck  fruit 
from  the  tree  he  planted  when  a  child. 

In  none  of  the  fruits  is  this  peaceful  revolution  so 
striking  as  in  the  culture  of  the  Pear.  From  the  long 
period  of  twenty  or  thirty  years  required  for  the  fruit- 
ing of  the  tree,  we  have  deducted  more  than  four- 
fifths,  and  reduced  the  time  to  three  or  four. 

The  introduction  of  the  French  method  of  propa- 
gation upon  the  Quince  stock  has  given  such  an 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

impetus  to  the  cultivation  of  the  Pear,  that  the  sales 
from  a  single  nursery  in  this  country  reach  the  enorm- 
ous number  of  half  a  million  trees  in  one  year.  It  is 
undoubtedly  true  that  the  propagation  of  the  Pear  on 
the  Quince,  by  its  early  production  of  this  noble  and 
beautiful  fruit,  will  be  the  source  of  more  unalloyed 
pleasure,  and  more  innocent  and  healthful  gratifica- 
tion, than  any  discovery  in  the  arts  and  sciences  for 
the  last  twenty  years. 

The  origin  of  this  method  of  propagating  the  Pear 
must  not  be  looked  for  in  very  recent  times — as  trees 
more  than  a  hundred  years  old"  originally  upon  the 
quince  stock,  may  be  found  growing  in  France.  The 
history  of  its  introduction  into  this  country  would  not 
be  difficult  to  trace ;  but  I  have  been  able  only  to 
ascertain  sufficient  to  induce  me  to  believe,  that  Mr, 
PERKINS,  of  Boston,  was  among  the  first  to  introduce 
it,  nearly  forty  years  since  ;  soon  after,  MARSHALL  P. 
WILDER,  of  Boston,  and  Mr.  MANNING,  of  Salem  ;  and 
later  still,  Mr.  HOVEY,  of  Cambridge,  commenced  the 
cultivation  of  quince-rooted  pear  trees,  which  may  be 
seen  in  those  places  more  than  thirty  years  of  age. 

Mr.  MANTEL,  of  Astoria,  was  for  some  years  in 
opposition  to  Mr.  A.  J.  DOWNING,  the  earliest  advocate 
of  its  general  cultivation  ;  but  it  was  not  until  within 
the  last  eight  or  ten  years  that  the  planting  of  the 
trees  had  become  very  common.  Indeed,  it  is  only 
within  a  year  or  two  that  the  theory  was  broached, 
which  governs  the  whole  constitution  of  the  com- 
pound tree,  viz. :  that  the  office  of  the  Quince  is 
entirely  as  root,  and  not  as  a  trunk. 

That  we  shall  arrive  at  a  point  of  excellence  in  the 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

propagation  of  the  Pear  which  will  enable  us  to  dis- 
pense even  with  the  Quince  in  great  part,  is  not 
doubted  by  good  pomologists. 

In  the  original  introduction  of  the  Pear  as  a  fruit 
into  this  country,  the  French  Huguenots  bore  a  pro- 
minent part.  In  preparing  for  their  exile,  they  doubt- 
less selected  the  seeds  of  their  best  varieties,  and 
planted  them  around  their  homes  in  the  New  World. 
This  is  evidenced  by  the  multitude  of  aged  trees 
(many  of  them  producing  fine  varieties)  in  the  im- 
mediate neighborhood  of  their  first  settlements,  par- 
ticularly on  Long  Island  and  at  New  Rochelle,  in 
Michigan  and  Illinois. 

It  is  not  a  little  curious  to  observe  how  the  taste 
and  preference  for  this  fruit  has  survived  in  the  coun- 
tries through  which  the  Huguenots  passed  in  their 
flight,  or  where  they  temporarily  sojourned.  Belgium 
and  Holland  have  produced  more  fine  varieties,  and 
more  eminent  cultivators,  of  this  fruit  than  all  the  rest 
of  the  world. 

There  are  many  questions  relating  to  the  Pear, 
which  are  still  little  understood,  although  discussed 
for  a  long  time  by  men  of  talent.  Among  these  are : 
the  decline  of  certain  highly-esteemed  varieties,  which 
can  no  longer  be  grown  in  localities  where  they 
formerly  ranked  as  the  highest  and  best ;  the  excel- 
lence of  many  varieties  in  particular  places,  and  their 
inferiority  when  grown  in  others ;  the  refusal  of 
some  varieties  to  grow  upon  the  Quince  stock. 

These,  and  many  other  mysteries,  which  have  caused 
as  much  disappointment  and  chagrin  to  the  cultivator, 
from  his  inability  to  account  for  them,  as  from  his 


1 6  INTRODUCTION. 

failure  to  obtain  the  fruit,  cannot,  from  the  limited 
character  of  this  work,  be  discussed  at  length.  The 
Pear  has  proved,  by  experience,  to  be  adapted  to  as 
wide  a  range  of  territory  in  the  United  States  as  the 
Apple  ;  and  on  the  lighter  soils  of  the  Atlantic  coast, 
to  be  much  more  productive.  We  are  beginning  to 
learn,  too,  what  varieties  are  adapted  to  special  local- 
ities and  soils ;  and  amid  the  great  multitude  of 
excellent  kinds,  it  will  not  be  difficult  to  find  some 
that  will  succeed,  with  ease,  in  the  most  unfavorable 
location. 

We  are  not  confined  now,  as  formerly,  to  a  single 
variety,  that  ripened  in  August  or  September,  whose 
evanescent  excellence  vanished  in  a  day  or  two  ;  but 
by  a  skillful  selection  of  varieties,  we  extend  the  enjoy- 
ment of  this  king  of  fruits  over  a  period  of  eight 
or  nine  months — or  from  August  to  May. 

A  great  advance  has  also  been  made  in  the  quality 
of  the  fruit ;  for  in  place  of  the  dry  and  mealy  Sugar- 
Pear,  the  insipid  Jargonelle,  and  the  griping  Winter- 
Bell,  we  have  obtained  the  Flemish  Beauty,  the 
Duchesse,  and  the  Easter  Beurre. 

That  we  shall  continue  to  make  great  progress  in 
the  knowledge  of  varieties,  their  propagation  and 
improvement,  can  hardly  be  doubted,  as  long  as  such 
intelligent  and  enthusiastic  men  as  DOWNING,  WILDER, 
BEKCKMANS,  HOVEY,  BARRY,  THOMAS,  and  BKINCKLE, 
continue  to  cultivate  the  Pear.  To  them  the  pomolo- 
gists  of  this  country  owe  a  large  debt  of  gratitude ; 
and  to  them  I  am  indebted  for  much  that  is  valuable 
in  this  treatise. 


PART  I.— PREPARATION    OF   THE   SOIL. 

To  the  tree-planter,  the  author  would  say,  in  the 
commencement  of  this  treatise,  as  its  most  important 
and  best  fortified  proposition :  that  the  most  complete 
and  thorough  preparation  of  the  soil  is  by  far  the 
most  economical  and  productive. 

Let  none,  therefore,  be  deterred  from  its  performance 
by  the  labor  of  preparation,  as  its  neglect  will  per- 
petually .  remain  a  source  of  regret.  Defects  or 
neglect  in  this  matter  can  never  be  entirely  remedied 
by  any  future  nursing  or  manuring.  The  thorough 
pulverization,  deepening,  and  mixing  of  the  soil  before 
planting,  will  insure  a  healthy  and  vigorous  growth, 
which  the  best  subsequent  system  of  manuring,  trim- 
ming, and  cultivation,  can  never  equal. 

The  satisfaction  and  delight  that  one  feels  in  grow- 
ing a  beautiful  tree,  are  enhanced  by  the  knowledge 
of  having  been  the  instrument  in  supplying  a  soil  and 
cultivation  intelligently  adapted  to  its  perfection. 

The  nurseryman  is  called  upon  to  answer  no  ques- 
tion oftener  than  the  vexatious  query  :  "  How  large 
holes  shall  I  dig  for  planting  my  trees  ?"  It  can  only 
be  answered  wisely  by  saying :  "If  you  have  one 
hundred  trees  to  plant,  dig  but  one  hole  for  them  all — 


18  PREPARATION   OF  THE    SOIL. 

in  other  words,  dig  the  whole  field  as  thoroughly  as 
you  would  the  space  for  a  single  tree.  If  tree- 
planters  would  observe  this  rule,  few  of  them  would 
suffer  the  disappointments  which  often  attend  trans- 
planting. So  few  persons,  however,  can  find  courage 
to  invest  this  amount  of  labor  in  the  mere  planting  of 
a  tree,  that  it  is  a  little  to  be  feared  that  some  will  be 
disinclined  to  attempt  anything,  when  so  much  is 
demanded  for  perfection.  To  such  it  can  only  be 
said :  "  Undertake  less  than  you  intended,  but  per- 
form that  little  in  the  best  manner." 

The  processes  for  the  important  work  of  thorough 
preparation  of  the  soil  are :  first,  Draining ;  second, 
Plowing  and  Cropping  the  Ground;  third,  Trench- 
ing— fourth,  Manuring. 

DRAINING. 

Thorough  drainage  has  become  so  much  a  matter 
of  faith  with  intelligent  agriculturists,  that  it  is  con 
sidered  almost  heresy  to  doubt  its  value  or  necessity 
in  all  soils. 

"Without  questioning  the  truth  of  this  extreme  doc- 
trine, it  is  sufficient  for  us  to  say :  that  all  soils,  pos- 
sessing any  of  the  following  conditions,  must,  to 
secure  a  healthy  growth  of  the  pear  tree,  be  first 
thoroughly  drained. 

1.  Those  composed  principally  of  clay. 

2.  Those  which  rest  on  an  impervious  subsoil. 

3.  Those  generally  upon  which  water  remains  more 
than  an  hour  after  rains. 

4.  Those  in  which  springs,  or  springy  ground  ap- 
pears. 


DRAINING.  19 

5.  Those  which  lie  at  the  base  of  a  hill  at  some 
distance  below  the  summit. 

6.  Those  which  lie  so  nearly  level  that,  although 
porous  in  their  character,  do  not  allow  the  water  to 
flow  off  readily  from  the  surface. 

On  any  of  the  varieties  of  soil  mentioned,  without 
draining,  the  pear  tree  i-s  peculiarly  subject  to  serious 
diseases.  The  winter  or  -sap  blight  finds  its  most 
numerous  victims  upon  them,  while  in  the  worst  con- 
ditions of  such  soils  the  growth  of  the  tree  is  slow  and 
stunted.  In  soils  at  all  retentive  of  water,  thorough 
drainage  is  the  only  safeguard  against  these  evils, 
and  many  positions,  not  suspected  of  this  defect,  will 
be  found  upon  examination  to  be  sadly  in  need  of 
this  remedy. 

If  the  plot  of  ground  lies  at  the  base  of  a  hill,  or  on 
its  slope,  at  some  distance  below  the  summit,  the 
water  percolating  through  the  soil  from  the  higher 
ground  will  find  its  way  to  the  surface  along  some 
saturated  strata ;  and  the  least  that  can  be  done  will 
be,  to  cut  a  ditch  of  from  four  to  five  feet  in  depth 
along  the  upper  line  of  the  ground,  thus  intercepting 
a  part  of  the  descending  waters. 

This  ditch  should  be  laid  with  tile,  or  a  rude  but 
effective  channel  made  of  rubble  stone,  and  in  both 
cases  should  be  half  filled  with  the  latter,  when  pro- 
curable ;  upon  which  a  thick  layer  of  straw  should  be 
placed,  and  the  earth  pressed  firmly  in  to  fill  up  the 
ditch. 

For  more  minute  directions  relating  to  the  condi- 
tions of  soil  requiring  drainage,  and  the  various 


20  PREPARATION    OF   THE   SOIL. 

methods  of  effecting  it,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
works  upon  that  subject.  It  is  sufficient  for  this  place 
to  say,  that  there  are  but  few  soils  that  would  not 
derive  great  advantage  from  thorough  under-draining. 

PLOWING  AND  CROPPING  THE  GROUND. 

When  the  planting  of  an  orchard  can  be  anticipated 
for  a  year  or  two,  the  ground  should  be  prepared  by 
growing  some  hoed  crop  upon  it ;  as  the  proper  treat- 
ment for  a  good  crop  of  corn,  or  potatoes,  forms  an 
excellent  preparation  for  the  growth  of  trees.  By 
this  plan,  the  soil  is  reduced  to  a  fine  tilth,  the  weeds 
are  subdued,  and  if  the  crop  has  been  well  manured, 
the  ground  is  rich  enough  for  the  first  year.  If  the 
soil  is  clayey,  or  otherwise  retentive  of  moisture,  the 
plowing  should  be  performed  in  the  fall,  and  left 
in  ridges ;  but  if  at  all  sandy  and  light,  it  should  be 
left  as  compact  as  possible  at  that  time,  and  not 
plowed  until  spring. 

The  ground  should  be  double  plowed,  by  turning 
a  deep  furrow,  and  following  in  the  bottom  of  that 
furrow  either  with  a  subsoil  or  common  plow.  If 
there  is  such  a  thing  possible  as  stirring  the  soil  for 
eighteen  or  twenty  inches  in  depth,  it  should  by  all 
means  be  accomplished,  for  this  reason :  a  hole  dug  in 
a  soil,  more  or  less  compact,  is  in  effect  a  cistern. 
This,  while  it  loses  capacity,  does  not  lose  any  of 
its  power  to  retain  water,  by  being  filled  with  loose 
Boil,  in  which  a  tree  is  planted.  The  invigorating 
effect  of  water  upon  the  roots  of  plants  is  probably 
uearly  exhausted  in  the  first  few  moments  of  its  con- 


PLOWING    AND   CROPPING   THE    GROUND.  21 

tact  with  them,  and  becomes  less  and  less  valuable, 
the  longer  the  same  particles  remain,  until  it  is  a  cause 
of  absolute  injury. 

If  the  hole,  therefore,  is  dug  deeper  than  the  sur- 
rounding soil  is  loosened,  the  lower  part  of  it  will 
retain  water  for  an  unhealthy  action  upon  the  roots 
planted  in  it.  But  if  the  earth  is  loosened  over  the 
whole  field,  as  low  as  the  bottom  of  the  deepest  hole, 
the  drainage  from  that  hole  is  perfected,  and  the 
otherwise  stagnant  water  will  flow  oif,  provided  an 
outfall  from  the  field  is  secured. 

An  excellent  plan  for  those  who  are  pressed  for 
time  is,  to  plow  five  or  six  furrows,  twice  deepened, 
or  subsoiled,  in  the  line  where  the  planting  of  a  row 
of  trees  is  intended,  and  omit  the  intervening  spaces 
until  a  later  period.  Let  these  furrows  be  run,  if 
possible,  in  the  direction  of  the  slope  of  the  ground, 
to  act  as  drains. 

Those  horticulturists,  however,  who  intend  perform- 
ing their  work  in  the  most  thorough  manner,  should 
take  this  rule  as  their  standard. 

Pulverize  the  soil  of  the  whole  field  to  a  depth 
greater  than  the  longest  roots  will  be  planted,  and 
this  can  only  be  well  done  by 

TRENCHING. 

As  frequently  performed,  the  best  results  of  trench- 
ing are  not  attained.  The  true  design  of  its  perform- 
ance is,  to  add  to  the  depth  of  the  soil,  without 
destroying  its  capability. 

When  the  fertile  earth  near  the  surface  is  thrown 


22  PREPARATION    OF   THE    SOIL. 

to  the  bottom  of  the  trench,  and  cohered  ten  to  twelve 
inches  deep  with  sterile  soil,  which  has  never  been 
aerated  by  frequent  stirring,  in  contact  with  the 
atmosphere ;  either  a  very  large  quantity  of  manure 
must  be  applied,  or,  with  ordinary  treatment,  some 
years  must  elapse,  before  the  soil  can  become  fertile, 
or  capable  of  sustaining  trees  in  a  healthy  condition. 

A  trench,  two  or  three  feet  wide,  should  be  dug  to 
the  proposed  depth,  across  the  end  of  the  ground 
designed  for  trenching,  and  the  earth  deposited  on 
the  side  of  the  ditch  opposite  to  the  space  intended 
for  treatment.  The  soil  thrown  up  should  now  be 
dressed  into  an  easy  slope,  so  that  other  earth  cast 
upon  any  part  of  its  face  will  not  fall  to  the  bottom 
of  the  trench,  but  remain  where  it  is  placed. 

A  single  spade's-width  should  now  be  taken  from  the 
surface  soil,  and  scattered  evenly  over  the  sloping 
breast  of  loose  earth,  forming  a  layer  of  three  or  four 
inches  in  thickness,  from  the  bottom  of  the  trench  to 
the  top  of  the  bank.  Over  this  should  be  thrown  the 
next  spade's-depth  of  subsoil,  forming  a  somewhat 
thicker  layer ;  and  this  again  is  to  be  covered  with 
part  of  the  adjoining  surface-earth ;  and  lastly,  over 
this  is  placed  the  third  spade's-depth  of  subsoil.  The 
bottom  of  the  trench  may  now  be  simply  loosened  by 
the  spade,  without  throwing  up  the  earth,  unless  it  is 
determined  to  trench  deeper  than  two  feet.  The 
manure  to  be  used  should  now  be  spread  evenly,  so 
as  to  form  another  layer  from  the  top  to  the  bottom 
of  the  sloping  bank,  and  the  alternate  strati  of  fertile 
earth,  barren  subsoils,  and  manure,  continued  to  the 
end. 


TRENCHING.  23 

The  object  to  be  attained  is,  so  thoroughly  to  mix, 
as  well  as  pulverize,  the  two  soils  thrown  together,  as 
to  dilute  the  good  earth  with  the  inert ;  but  it  will  be 
perceived,  that  they  have  only  interchanged  positions, 
without  commingling. 

The  layers  of  soil  and  manure  declining  at  an  angle 
of  about  forty-five  degrees,  and  which  now  exhibit 
their  edges  at  the  surface,  may  be  thoroughly  inter- 
mingled by  one  or  two  deep  plowings.  It  will  at 
once  be  seen,  that  a  soil  deepened  in  this  manner  will 
demand  much  more  manure  than  when  cultivated  to 
the  ordinary  depth. 

When  the  trenching  of  a  plot  of  ground  is  finished, 
a  ditch  will  remain,  which  must  be  filled  with  the 
earth  first  thrown  out  at  the  other  extremity  of  the 
field. 

The  cost  of  trenching  an  acre  of  ground  will  de- 
pend greatly  upon  the  character  of  the  soil,  and  the 
depth  it  is  worked. 

The  trenching  of  my  own  ground  may  not  afford  a 
fair  criterion,  but  it  will  furnish  a  basis  by  which  calcu- 
lations may  approximately  be  made  of  the  expense. 

The  soil  was  a  sandy  loam,  deepened  to  an  average 
of  nearly  three  feet,  with  the  surface  earth  of  the  adja- 
cent streets,  and  though  very  free  in  its  composition, 
had  been  very  much  hardened  by  the  passage  of  the 
carts  in  filling. 

LABOR  ON  ONE  ACRE TRENCHED  fHIRTT  INCHES  DEEP. 

Plowing,  one  day $3  00 

Seventy-two  days'  labor,  at  $1 72  00 

One  day  carting  soil  from  the  first  trench  to  the  last  one,  2  men       3  00 
Removing  stones  thrown  out 1  00 

$79  00 


24  PREPARATION    OF   THE   SOIL. 

From  some  comparison  of  the  amount  of  labor  upon 
other  grounds,  I  am  convinced  that  the  above  would 
prove  nearly  an  average  cost,  although  the  trenching 
of  heavier  and  more  stony  lands  would  cost  as  much 
as  $100  per  acre.  "Where  the  labor  of  preparing  an 
acre  at  once,  appeared  too  formidable  a  task,  a  number 
of  amateurs  have  practiced  the  following  plan  at  my 
recommendation  with  good  results. 

The  ground  intended  for  planting  is  divided  into 
lour  equal  parts  ;  and  if  the  whole  plot  contains  an  acre, 
and  is  a  square,  each  fourth  will  contain  almost  11,000 
superficial  feet,  and  its  four  sides  be  each  105  feet  in 
length.  A  more  convenient  plot,  for  spacing  the  trees 
accurately,  would  be,  100  by  110  feet.  Extending  these 
lines  to  220  feet  by  200  feet  would  inclose  but  a  trifle 
more  than  an  acre. 

One  of  these  quarter-acre  plots  should  be  thoroughly 
trenched  and  manured,  to  receive  all  the  pear  trees 
intended  for  the  entire  acre.  None  of  these  trees  need 
be  removed  before  the  end  of  the  second  year,  when 
another  plot  has  been  prepared  for  the  reception  of 
every  alternate  tree  in  each  alternate  row.  At  the 
end  of  the  third  year,  another  square  having  been 
trenched,  remove  every  alternate  tree  from  the  rows, 
which  at  the  last  removal  were  untouched.  The  origi- 
nal square  will  now  contain  one  half  of  the  whole 
number  of  trees,  or  double  its  quota  ;  and  the  removal 
of  every  alternate  complete  row  to  the  fourth  unoccu- 
pied square,  in  the  fourth  year,  will  place  the  trees  at 
equal  distances  throughout  the  entire  ground.  Some- 
what more  than  the  exact  number  of  trees  necessary 
to  complete  the  plan  should  be  planted  in  the  first 


TRENCHING.  25 

year,  in  order  to  be  able  to  compensate  for  the  loss  of 
any,  by  substituting  trees  of  equal  size  and  vigor. 

This  plan  presents  advantages  which  will  be  more 
largely  discussed,  but  of  which  the  following  is  a 
synopsis. 

1.  It  divides  the  labor  into  practicable  portions  which 
do  not  discourage  the  planter  by  their  magnitude,  and 
the   work  is  better  performed   than   if  more  were 
demanded  at  once. 

2.  Manure,  which  would  be  difficult  to  obtain  in 
sufficiently  large  quantities,  for  preparing  the  whole 
ground  well,  may  be  easily  procured  for  one-fourth  the 
area. 

3.  In  the  best  selected  lot  of  trees,  there  will,  from 
various  causes,  be  some  that  fail  in  the  first  two  or 
three  years,  and  if  planted  in  an  orchard,  would  leave 
an  unsightly  blank — or  require  the  planting  of  a  tree 
that  will  always  break  the  harmony  of  the  ground,  by 
its  smaller  size.     But  trees  taken  from  the  near  supply 
will  scarcely  lose  any  vigor,  by  a  careful  second  trans- 
planting, and  not  one  in  a  thousand  should  be  lost. 

4.  The  root-pruning  occasioned  by  removal  hastens 
the  bearing  of  pear-trees,  on  both  pear  and  quince 
stocks,  many  years. 

5.  All  the  nursiiig  which  young  trees   especially 
require  is  brought  within  a  small  compass,  and  the 
labor  is  materially  lessened.     The  mulching,  the  hunt 
for  insects,  and  the  washing  of  the  trees,  are  all  per- 
formed in  a  small  area,  and  without  the  fatiguing  labor 
of  travelling  long  distances.     The  pear  tree,  above  all 
others,  is  especially  fitted  for  frequent  removals,  and 

2 


26  PREPARATION   OF  THE   SOIL. 

» 

is,  indeed,  benefited  by  them  in  acquiring  capacity 
for  early  fruiting 

MANURING. 

Undoubtedly,  the  most  thorough  preparation  for  an 
orchard  or  fruit  ground  would  require  the  enriching 
of  the  whole  soil  nearly  as  well  as  most  cultivators 
do  the  space  immediately  around  the  tree.  As  it  is 
intended  that  the  entire  body  of  earth  within  the 
limits  of  the  fruit  ground  shall  be  occupied  by  the 
roots,  it  is  important  that  it  should  contain  sufficient 
nourishment  for  their  sustenance.  During  the  first 
few  years,  it  is  true,  they  would  be  supplied  with 
the  pabulum  they  find  immediately  around  the  tree, 
and  that  in  a  light  soil  much  of  the  nutriment  at 
first  supplied  would  have  escaped  before  the  trees 
were  fitted  by  age  and  growth  for  its  appropriation. 
But  for  such  a  soil,  the  manure  should  be  adopted  to 
its  peculiar  condition,  and  be  composted  with  a  large 
bulk  of  clay,  or  swamp-muck,  or  other  organic  matter, 
which  will  enable  a  hungry  soil  to  long  retain  the 
fertilizing  agencies  applied  to  it.  A  soil,  however, 
which  has  been  naturally  supplied  with  but  a  moderate 
proportion  of  vegetable  mould  or  cla}rey  loam,  will 
not  forget  for  many  years  the  influence  of  a  manure 
which  has  been  deeply  deposited.  Used  in  this  manner, 
manure  will  exhibit  its  influence  upon  the  growth  and 
fruiting  of  the  pear  tree  in  a  much  greater  degree  than 
in  any  subsequent  application.  It.  not  unfrequently 
occurs,  that  sufficient  manure  for  the  whole  space  of 
ground  to  be  fertilized  is  not  readily  obtainable  at  the 
time  of  planting.  * 


MANURE   FOE   PEAR    TREES.  27 

To  economize  tlie  quantity  for  present  use  as  much 
as  possible,  a  partial  application,  that  will  serve  tem- 
porarily, may  be  made  along  a  line  of  five  or  six  fur- 
rows in  width,  thoroughly  plowed  in,  and  inter- 
mingled with  the  soil.  After  the  holes  are  dug  along 
this  line,  well-rotted  manure  should  be  strewn  in  them, 
and  covered  with  soil.  Occasionally,  as  the  hole  is 
being  filled  over  the  roots,  more  manure  should  be 
well  pulverized  and  shaken  in,  but  in  all  cases,  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  prevent  its  direct  contact  with  the  roots. 
In  deepening  a  soil  for  any  purpose,  it  must  be  remem- 
bered, that  as  the  quantity  of  earth  to  be  enriched  is 
greatly  increased,  a  much  larger  amount  of  manure 
will  be  required.  If  it  be  desired  to  increase  the 
depth  of  a  soil  of  nine  inches  to  eighteen,  and  the 
manure  is  thoroughly  intermixed  to  that  depth,  it  will 
require  more  than  double  the  quantity  of  the  latter, 
which  would  be  needed  to  fertilize  the  first  nine  inches 
of  depth,  as  the  subsoil  is  nearly  devoid  of  nutritious 
matter.  But,  as  the  escape  and  loss  of  this  is  upward 
into  the  atmosphere,  the  deepened  soil  will  retain  the 
volatile  constituents  of  manure  much  longer  than  a 
shallow  one. 

•       MANURE   FOR   PEAR-TREES. 

It  is  a  general  truth,  that  the  manure  that  will 
produce  a  good  crop  of  corn  or  potatoes  will  perfect 
a  crop  of  fruit ;  but  while  special  manures  are  to  be 
jealously  criticised  and  tested  by  experiment,  still 
something  should  be  learned  from  the  special  demands 
of  the  plant.  In  the  ashes  of  the  pear  and  apple  wood 
or  fruit,  and  in  the  potato  stalk  and  tuber,  a  very 


28  PREPARATION   OF  THE   SOIL. 

large  amount  of  potash  is  found,  and  the  theoretical 
deduction  from  that  fact,  that  potash  or  ashes  would 
add  largely  to  the  growth  and  fruiting  of  these  varie- 
ties of  trees  and  plants,  is  found  true  in  practice. 
But  in  the  ashes  of  wheat,  comparatively  little  potash 
is  discoverable,  while  in  its  place  is  seen  a  large 
amount  of  phosphates  ;  and,  accordingly,  we  find  the 
various  salts,  of  which  phosphoric  acid  is  the  base, 
exercise  a  great  influence  in  increasing  the  wheat  crop. 
Now  it  would  be  blindness  or  mulish  obstinacy  to 
neglect  these  facts,  and  apply  manures  without  atten- 
tion to  the  special  wants  of  a  plant  or  tree.  Farmers 
and  gardeners  who  scout  contemptuously  the  teachings 
of  science  in  regard  to  manuring,  daily  practice  the 
most  scientific  and  special  theories  for  manuring  plants, 
to  produce  perfect  vegetables  and  flowers. 

Well-rotted  stable-manure  is  without  doubt  the 
safest,  and  ordinarily  the  most  convenient,  form  in 
which  nutriment  can  be  conveyed  to  trees,  but  it  is 
not  always  attainable  in  sufficient  quantities,  nor  does 
it  alone  produce  the  highest  result.  Guano  is  a  con- 
venient manure,  though  temporary  in  its  action,  unless 
combined  with  twenty  times  its  bulk  of  charcoal-dust, 
plaster,  or  partially,  dried  muck.  From  two  ounces  to 
half  a  pound  may  be  applied  to  each  tree  at  planting ; 
varying  in  quantity  according  to  the  area  and  depth 
of  ground  in  which  it  is  distributed.  But  in  no  case 
should  it  be  placed  so  that  the  roots  will  have  less 
than  three  to  six  inches  of  earth,  protecting  them  from 
its  caustic  influence.  Guano  affords  an  admirable 
liquid-dressing  for  trees  (especially  when  exhibiting  a 
languid  growth)  applied  at  the  rate  of  an  ounce  or 


MANURE   FOE   PEAK   TREES.  29 

two  in  a  pailful  of  water,  distributed  for  a  space  of 
three  or  four  feet  around  the  tree. 

Of  the  more  concentrated  forms  of  manure,  ground 
bones,  horn  shavings,  etc.,  are  decidedly  the  best, 
especially  when  dissolved  in  sulphuric  acid. 

"When  used  without  this  treatment,  the  bones  should 
be  a  mixture  of  the  finely-ground  bone-meal  and  the 
crushed  half-inch  bones  in  equal  quantities.  The  first 
will  decay  rapidly,  and  afford  immediate  nutriment  to 
the  roots,  while  the  latter  will  last  longer,  and  yield 
their  virtues  when  the  finer  bones  will  be  completely 
exhausted.  But  even  these  generous  and  excellent 
manures  have  a  better  effect  mixed  with  coarser 
manures,  such  as  stable-litter,  horse-dung,  swamp- 
muck,  and  other  decomposing  organic  matter. 

Summer  applications  of  stimulating  manures  have 
a  tendency  to  produce  late  succulent  growth  that  does 
not  ripen,  and  which  the  winter  blights  or  kills  down, 
endangering  the  life  of  the  whole  tree  with  its  poisoned 
sap.  Late  spring  applications  of  manures  also  stimu- 
late wood-growth  to  such  an  extent  in  midsummer,  as 
to  induce  the  tree  to  throw  off  the  young  and  half 
grown  fruit. 

In  the  grounds  of  the  author,  during  the  last  season, 
a  Bartlett  Pear  tree,  three  years  from  the  bud,  set  520 
pears.  "When  the  fruit  had  acquired  the  size  of  mus- 
ket-balls, the  tree  was  supplied  with  guano  and  super- 
phosphate of  lime,  dissolved  in  large  quantities  of 
water,  in  order  to  ascertain  how  great  a  number  of 
fruits  a  tree  six  feet  high,  and  one  and  a  half  inches 
in  diameter  of  body  at  the  ground,  would  Lr<m.  A 
barrel  was  filled  with  the  solution,  and  set  so  as  to  leak 
slowly  about  two  quarts  daily  around  the  roots. 


80  PEEPAEATION   OF   THE    SOIL. 

As  the  summer  advanced,  fine  thrifty  shoots,  two 
and  throe  feet  in  length,  covered  the  tree,  but  all  the 
fruits,  except  about  thirty,  fell  before  ripening  :  while 
on  trees  not  stimulated  by  such  unnatural  nutrition, 
and  which  made  little  or.  no  wood-growth,  more  than 
fifty  fine  pears  were  matured. 

No  tree  of  that  size  should  have  borne  one-quarter 
of  that  number,  but  it  was  an  experiment  in  which  the 
good  of  individual  trees  was  not  regarded.  Nature 
usually  refuses  to  perform  the  double  labor  of  wood- 
growth  and  large  fruit  production  during  the  same 
period  ;  and  we  cannot,  with  all  our  skill,  induce  her 
to  disregard  the  laws  which  govern  her  delicate  and 
wondrous  processes. 

"When  rich  stimulants  are  applied  to  bearing  trees 
during  the  growth  of  the  fruit,  the  latter  is  almost 
certain  to  fall  prematurely,  as  soon  as  the  unusual 
nutrition  is  exhibited  in  more  thrifty  production  of 
wood-growth. 

The  proper  time  for  the  application  of  such  highly 
organized  manures  as  have  been  mentioned,  is  in  the 
fall  or  in  early  spring,  during  the  hibernation  of  the 
tree.  They  should  always  be  well  and  deeply  worked 
into  the  soil.  The  cost  of  manuring  varies  much  with 
the  locality  and  price  of  stable  manures.  If  thoroughly 
manured  for  the  reception  of  400  to  800  pear  trees— 
an  acre  should  receive  from  twenty  to  fifty  double 
wagon-loads  of  stable  or  compost  manures.  Thirty- 
five  wagon-loads,  at  two  dollars  each,  would  fix  the 
cost  of  manuring  an  acre  at  §70,  which  would  be  a 
very  moderate  sum. 

In  the  grounds  of  Prof.  Mapes,  at  Newark,  New 


COMPOST.  31 

Jersey,  may  be  seen  pear  trees  of  luxuriant  growth, 
producing  great  quantities  of  the  finest  fruit,  which 
have  been  manured,  as  he  assured  me,  only  with  super- 
phosphate of  lime. 

COMPOST. 

There  is  nothing  in  his  range  of  labors  that  gives 
the  genuine  lover  of  fruit  and  vegetable  growth  such 
complete  satisfaction  as  the  increase  in  size  and  excel- 
lence of  his  compost-heap.  In  it  the  cultivator  is 
storing  up  his  chemicals  for  Nature's  laboratory,  and 
is  thus  prepared  to  furnish  to  her  the  elements  which 
shall  come  forth  the  purest  gold.  Untold  wealth  lies 
hidden  in  its  dark  and  unseemly  mass,  and  at  the 
magic  touch  of  the  great  enchanter,  shall  burst  forth 
in  forms  of  wondrous  beauty.  In  it  his  imagination 
sees  hidden  the  subtle  essences  which  will  ripen  the 
golden  pear,  color  the  cheek  of  the  melting  peach, 
give  lustre  to  the  green  foliage  and  beautiful  growth 
of  the  trees  on  which  his  care  is  bestowed  ;  and  thus 
he  cheats  his  senses  of  the  loathsomeness  which 
appears  to  others. 

No  single  substance  or  kind  of  manure  contains  all 
the  virtues  or  manurial  requisites  for  tree  or  fruit 
growth ;  and  a  compost  which  contains  all  or  most  of 
the  fertilizing  agents,  will  be  always  found  in  practice 
to  produce  the  finest  growth  and  fruit. 

Excellent  results  in  the  growth  and  fruiting  of  pear 
trees  have  been  obtained  from  a  compost  formed  in 
the  following  manner :  Peat  or  swamp  muck,  and  the 
tough  sods  of  an  old  headland,  were  laid  down  in  a 
layer  about  six  inches  thick,  and  twenty-five  feet 


32  PREPARATION   OF   THE   SOIL. 

square,  and  on  this  a  layer  of  old  leather  shavings, 
three  to  four  inches,  and  an  inch  of  refuse  lime  were 
placed.  These  layers  were  repeated  until  the  heap 
was  five  or  six  feet  in  height.  To  every  second  layer 
of  sods  or  peat  was  added  one  inch  of  "bone-meal, 
amounting  to  one  hundred  bushels  in  the  aggregate, 
and  twice  on  the  top  of  the  sods  a  layer  of  six  inches 
of  horse  manure,  that  aided  in  starting  the  fermenta- 
tion. The  whole  was  encased  and  topped  off  with  sods. 
A  narrow  rim  was  turned  upon  the  edge,  forming  a 
basin,  and  five  hundred  pounds  of  potash,  dissolved 
in  water,  poured  upon  the  heap.  If  ashes  had  been 
obtainable,  one  hundred  bushels  of  unleached,  or  three 
hundred  to  five  hundred  of  leached  ashes  would  have 
been  applied.  The  heap  contained  one  hundred  cubic 
yards,  was  turned  twice  before  spreading  on  the  soil, 
and  was  intended  more  as  a  medium  of  distributing 
the  potash,  lime,  and  five  hundred  pounds  each  of 
guano,  and  superphosphate  of  lime,  afterwards  added, 
and  for  forming  with  the  peat  and  leather  shavings  a 
good  retainer  of  ammonia  in  the  soil. 

Let  every  fruit-raiser,  each  spring  and  fall,  prepare 
such  a  compost  as  the  following,  and  the  results  of  its 
application  to  trees  will  astonish  and  delight  him. 

A  heap  of  leaves,  leaf  or  swamp  muck,  peat,  or 
rubbish  of  any  organic  matter,  should  be  placed  at  a 
convenient  distance  from  the  house  (for  no  offensive 
smell  need  be  apprehended,  if  properly  treated),  to 
receive  the  wood-ashes,  the  soapsuds,  the  kitchen  and 
chamber  slops. 

Another  heap  should  be  formed  at  the  stables,  or 
rather,  a  pit  should  be  dug,  and  half  filled  with  the 


DIGGING  HOLES.  33 

absorbing  materials,  in  which  should  be  thrown  all 
the  bones  and  spoiled  meat,  the  carcases  of  fowls  and 
animals,  all  the  old  fish  and  meat  brine,  the  night- 
soil  from  the  privies,  and  the  liquid  manure  from  the 
stables.  Even  the  coal-ashes  should  be  preserved  for 
the  small  per-cent  of  alkaline  salts  they  contain;  and 
to  the  whole,  iron  should  be  added  in  some  shape, 
either  as  cinders  from  the  blacksmith's  shop  or  the 
foundry. 

All  this  mass  is  effectually  deprived  of  offensive 
smell,  by  covering  with  a  fresh  supply  of  muck,  when- 
ever an  escape  of  nitrogenous  matters  is  perceived. 
The  effect  of  such  a  compost,  applied  to  fruit-trees, 
is  almost  startling,  in  the  rapidity  and  hardiness  of 
growth  it  induces,  and  in  the  luscious  and  highly- 
colored  fruit  a  soil  so  fertilized  will  bring  forth. 

As  the  dark  and  loathsome  mass  swells  in  its  pro- 
portions, the  cultivator  (who  knows  it  is  but  the 
ungraceful  form  which  covers  a  beautiful  soul)  sees 
gorgeous  flowers  and  fruits  emerging  with  colors  no 
mortal  hand  could  bestow. 

DIGGING  HOLES. 

If  the  soil  has  been  trenched  or  deeply  plowed,  the 
digging  of  holes  for  trees  is  a  work  of  comparatively 
small  labor,  and  they  need  be  made  but  little  larger 
than  sufficient  to  accommodate  the  roots  without 
bending  or  crowding.  "When,  however,  the  soil  has 
not  been  thus  deeply  prepared,  the  holes  should  be 
dug  as  deep  and  as  large  as  the  most  generous  views 
of  the  planter  would  dictate,  taking  care,  only,  that 
they  shall  not  be  a  less  width  than  twice  the  diameter 

2* 


34  PREPARATION   OF  THE   SOIL, 

of  the  spread  roots  to  be  planted  in  them,  nor  of  a 
less  depth  than  six  inches  below  the  bottom  of  these 
roots. 

"When  it  is  intended  to  prepare  the  ground  only  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  tree,  the  holes  should 
not  be  less  than  four  feet  in  width,  by  two  feet  in  depth. 
But  no  plan  can  be  more  defective  than  digging 
deep  holes  in  retentive  clayey  soils,  where  water4  will 
collect  without  freedom  of  passage.  Filling  this  hole 
with  loose  earth  does  not  alter  its  character  for  retain- 
ing water,  and  the  roots  must  soon  decay.  When  it 
is  only  intended  to  dig  such  holes  without  connecting 
them  one  with  another  in  the  form  of  a  trench,  having 
an  outlet  fall,  the  planter  had  far  better  dig  but  a 
shallow  hole,  and  prepare  himself  for  very  indifferent 
results  without  more  pains  than  mere  hole-digging. 

DIGGING   TREES. 

The  disappointment  and  chagrin  which  the  tree- 
planter  feels  at  seeing  a  sickly  tree  linger  feebly 
through  three  or  four  seasons  of  yellow  leaves  and 
dwindling  branches,  would  often  be  averted  if  some 
person  interested  in  the  life  and  growth  of  the  tree, 
and  with  skill  to  direct,  were  present  at  its  digging. 

It  is  just  at  this  point  that  the  care  of  the  cultivator 
should  begin,  for  it  is  too  late  for  skillful  management, 
when  the  tree  has  been  ruined  in  the  digging. 

No  disappointment  can  be  more  exasperating  than 
that  experienced  by  one  who  waifs  with  feverish 
impatience, year  after  year,  for  the  fruiting  of  his  trees, 
and  sees  them  struggle,  almost  like  living  sentient 
things,  to  preserve  a  sickly  existence,  and  ultimately 


DIGGING  TREES.  35 

die  from  the  violence  and  abuse  they  received  in  dis- 
placing them  from  the  nursery.  Many  a  person  has 
retired  care-worn  from  business,  to  the  farm  he  has 
labored  half  a  life-time  to  obtain  the  means  of  purchas- 
ing, only  to  be  driven  back  into  the  old  mill-track 
again,  by  disappointment  at  the  result  of  his  labor  in 
planting  the  imperfect,  rootless  trees  sent  to  him  from 
some  famous  nursery.  The  nurseryman  is  usually 
sincerely  desirous  that  his  trees  should  be  taken  up 
carefully,  and  arrive  in  good  condition;  but  petty 
questions  arise  regarding  the  expense  of  increased 
labor  in  digging  or  packing  carefully,  and  his  reflec- 
tion usually  is  :  that  he  "  guesses  they  will  do  pretty 
well."  In  pressing  seasons,  too,  he  is  glad  to  engage 
the  most  ignorant  foreigner  who  offers;  to  be  em- 
ployed in  digging  up  a  tree,  about  whose  necessities 
the  laborer  knows  no  more  than  he  does  of  the  con- 
stitution of  the  country  of  which  he  is,  or  expects  to 
be,  a  voter.  Pat  or  Heinrich,  with  no  higher  idea  than 
that  he  is  to  take  out  a  good  spadeful,  sets  in  his  spade 
close  to  the  body  of  the  tree,  and  by  lifting,  and  pry- 
ing, and  twisting,  brings  out  a  living  thing  from  the 
earth,  which  although  mangled,  and  torn,  and  cut,  he 
cannot  conceive  is  hurt,  because  it  does  not  groan. 

It  is  not  only  stupidity  and  ignorance  with  which 
the  purchaser  is  obliged  to  contend,  but  an  utter 
indifference  on  the  part  of  the  laborer  to  the  success 
or  failure  of  the  tree ;  and  his  desire  to  exhibit  a  good 
day's  work  induces  him  to  hasten  that  part  of  his 
labor  in  which  he  should  exercise  most  care. 

In  all  cases,  one  should  begin  with  the  intention  cf 
hastening  no  part  of  the  digging  of  a  tree  which  can 


36  PREPARATION   OF  THE   SOIL. 

be  better  done  with  more  time.  If  the  tree  is  more 
than  two  years  old,  commence  at  a  distance  not  less 
than  two  feet  from  the  body,  and  increase  the  dist- 
ance one  foot  for  every  inch  in  thickness  of  the  tree  at 
the  earth-collar.  Set  the  spade  into  the  ground  with 
one  edge  of  the  upright  blade  always  turned  towards 
the  tree,  and  bending  back  the  spade,  raise  the  earth 
with  a  shaking  motion,  that  will  free  it  from  the  roots 
raised  by  the  blade.  If  the  flat  side  of  the  blade  and 
the  face  of  the  digger  were  turned  towards  the  tree, 
every  root  would  be  cut  off  clean,  where  the  spade 
enters  the  ground.  But  by  the  first  method,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  two  feet  of  roots  in  the  solid  ball,  there 
will  remain  rootlets  and  fibres  to  the  width  of  the 
spade. 

In  this  manner  proceed  around  the  tree,  with  the 
edge  of  the  spade  turned  towards  it,  and  you  will  cut 
very  few  of  the  roots  which  extend  into  the  trench. 

Let  a  sharp  ciitting  spade  be  provided,  which  should 
never  be  used  for  digging,  and  with  this  cut  smoothly 
all  the  roots  that  extend  beyond  the  trench  until  the 
lowest  layer  of  roots  is  reached,  and  proceed  to  dig 
under  them,  by  laying  the  spade  nearly  flat,  and 
parallel  with  the  ground,  and  thrusting  it  under  the 
ball  to  cut  the  tap-root.  Having  cleared  away  the 
loose  dirt,  shake  the  tree  gently  back  and  forth,  until  it 
is  ascertained  where  the  tree  is  held  by  the  remaining 
roots;  and  then,  with  a  digging-fork,  dislodge  the 
earth  in  the  ball  from  them,  and  only  lift  it  when  you 
find  that  the  tree  will  not  strain,  or  the  roots  break. 

A  gentle  shake  will  now  free  it  thoroughly  from 
earth  without  dashing  it  against  the  ground,  as  most 


DIGGING  TREES.  37 

laborers  will  do  unless  watched.  From  this  time,  the 
sooner  it  is  in  the  ground  the  better ;  but  if  replanting 
is  delayed,  Nature  must  be  imitated  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible, by  hiding  the  roots  from  the  light  and  air,  in 
the  best  manner,  and  as  soon  as  you  can.  An  old  rug, 
pieces  of  matting,  wet  straw,  or,  when  these  are  not 
convenient,  a  light,  but  complete  covering  of  pulver- 
ized soil,  should  be  thrown  over  the  roots. 

Even  in  a  rainy  or  cloudy  day,  injury  is  received 
by  exposure  to  the  chilling  atmosphere  or  light. 

When  the  soil  is  sufficiently  adhesive,  and  the  trees 
to  be  planted  are  near  their  destination,  a  ball  of  earth 
may  be  left  around  the  roots,  and  the  whole  carefully 
lifted  in  the  arms  of  two  men,  and  set  in  the  hole. 

There  is  in  plants  a  condition  somewhat  analogous 
to  animal  heat,  though  hardly  sufficiently  well  defined 
to  be  pronounced  vegetable  heat.  But  it  is  certain 
that  the  temperature  of  plants  must  be  maintained 
within  a  limited  range,  to  preserve  their  juices  from 
destructive  change ;  and  this  limit  is  much  re- 
stricted, when  the  roots  are  deprived  of  their  natural 
protection,  and  exposed  to  chilling  atmosphere.  It  is 
not  necessary  that  the  temperature  of  the  air  should 
even  be  lowered  to  the  freezing-point,  to  accomplish 
great  injury  to  the  naked  roots,  which,  while  protected 
by  earth,  could  endure  an  absence  of  heat  indicated 
by  thirty  degrees  below  zero.  There  is  something  in 
this  analogy  of  condition  of  plants  to  living  beings 
which,  while  it  excites  our  wonder,  reveals  to  us  how 
little  we  have  yet  learned  regarding  their  mysterious 
processes. 

I  have  seen  some  of  the  roots  of  a  pear  tree,  stand- 


38  .  PREPARATION    OF   THE   SOIL. 

ing  upon  a  bank,  exposed  on  one  side  entirely  unpro- 
tected, to  a  severe  winter,  without  injury.  The 
requisite  condition,  or  heat  being  maintained  by  their 
connection  with  the  larger  body  of  roots,  which  were 
protected  in  the  soil — -just  as  we  daily  expose  a  part 
of  the  person  to  the  cold  with  impunity,  while  the 
naked  body  would  not  endure  a  temperature  many 
degrees  higher,  without  perishing. 

There  is  an  equal  danger  in  exposure  to  the  opposite 
extreme  of  temperature,  though  not  so  rapid  in  its 
consequences.  A  cold  bleak  wind  is  far  more  effective 
in  drying  up  the  sap  than  a  moderately  warm  tem- 
perature, exerted  for  the  same  length  of  time.  The 
effects  of  both  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  are  the  same. 
The  sap  is  inspissated  to  such  a  degree,  that  the 
empty  cells  close  up,  and  become  incapable  of  again 
exerting  the  mysterious  endosmose  action  by  which 
their  functions  are  employed.  Could  the  lungs  of  a 
drowned  person  be  once  more  inflated,  the  blood  would 
commence  its  flow ;  or  could  the  blood  be  induced  to 
move  by  friction,  the  empty  air-cells  of  the  lungs 
would  fill,  and  the  vital  functions  of  life  once  more 
commence.  Could  we  fill  the  collapsed  sap-vessels  of 
the  dried  tree,  we  should  gain  one  point  in  its  recovery, 
and  in  the  appropriate  place  the  means  for  this  will 
be  discussed. 

SOILS   FOR   PEARS. 

It  is  somewhat  mortifying  to  the  promologist,  after 
twenty  years  of  careful  study  of  the  laws  which 
govern  the  growth  and  fruiting  of  trees,  to  feel  con- 


SOILS    FOE   PEAKS.  39 

strained  to  acknowledge,  that  not  only  what  he  has 
learned  from  others,  but  much  of  what  he  has  gathered 
from  his  own  experience,  is  to  be  distrusted — perhaps 
unlearned. 

In  nothing  is  he  likely  to  be  more  disappointed 
than  ic  the  soils  which  analogy  and  theory  would 
induce  him  to  point  out  as  superior.     So  many  influ- 
ences and  conditions  affect  the  results  of  horticultural 
effort,  that  disappointment  often  follows  the  selection 
of  what  appear  the  finest  soils.     The  Newtown  Pip- 
pin, on  the  soil  of  Long  Island,  where  it  originated, 
refuses  to  yield  the  exquisite  juices  and  rare  perfumes 
which  distinguish  this  king  of  apples ;  and  from  the 
same  island  which  once  sent  forth  sloop-loads  of  the 
rarest  Yergalieu  Pears,  scarcely  a  bushel  of  perfect 
fruit  of  that  variety  has  been  gathered  in  one  season 
for  the  last  fifteen  years.     Neither  the  richest  soil,  nor 
the  most  careful  cultivation,  any  longer  produce  good 
fruit  of  these  varieties ;  while  on  the  rugged  farms 
along  the  Hudson,  the  Newtown  Pippin  preserves  its 
superiority  with  scarcely  an  attempt  at  cultivation 
bestowed  upon  it ;  and  through  the  central  and. north- 
ern counties  of  New  York,  the  Yergalieu  continues 
to  produce  its  unrivalled  fruit.     Most  of  the  other 
varieties  of  Pear  are  produced  on  Long  Island  and  in 
New  Jersey  in  great  excellence  and  abundance.   Yari- 
eties.  of  pears  are  pronounced  excellent  in  the  vicinity 
of  Boston,  which  are  worthless  when  raised  in  other 
localities  with  equal  care  in  cultivation.     These  anom- 
alies prevent  us  from  declaring  with  certainty  upon 
the  fitness  of  any  soil  for  all  varieties  of  pears,  when 
that  particular  locality  and  soil  have  not  been  tested 


40  PREPARATION   OF   THE   SOIL. 

by  experiment.  !N~o  prudent  man  will,  therefore,  plant 
a  very  large  number  of  trees,  of  varieties  which  have 
not  been  proved  in  his  neighborhood ;  at  least,  not 
without  having  made  careful  inquiry  regarding  those 
that  have  succeeded  or  failed. 

Still,  general  rules  that  should  govern  in  the  choice 
of  soils  may  be  given.  E"o  soil,  however  rich, .  that 
allows  water  to  remain  on  its  surface  more  than  a  day 
after  it  has  fallen,  or  to  rise  in  holes  dug  not  more 
than  four  feet  deep,  is  fit  for  plantations  of  the  Pear, 
or,  indeed,  of  any  other  fruit  tree.  And  no  light,  thin 
soil,  which  is  not  susceptible  of  deepening,  can  be 
relied  on. 

The  soil  for  the  Pear  must  be  dry,  and  either  deep, 
or  capable  from  the  nature  of  its  subsoil  of  deepening 
without  destroying  its  excellence,  and  of  a  looseness 
of  texture  sufficient  to  allow  the  free  extension  of  the 
tender  rootlets. 

A  peaty  or  alluvial  soil,  or  one  too  rich  in  vegetable 
mould,  may  induce  a  luxuriant  and  beautiful  growth 
in  appearance,  the  succulent  shoots  of  which  a  rigor- 
ous winter  would  certainly  blight.  A  free  loam 
having  a  large  preponderance  of  sand,  without  being 
light,  is  preferable,  as  it  is  easily  worked,  at  times 
when  a  clayey  soil  would  be  nearly  a  bed  of  mortar. 
With  proper  manuring  the  first  would  produce  a 
stocky,  well-ripened,  but  comparatively  short  growth, 
while  the  latter,  if  in  good  condition,  would  induce 
one  more  vigorous,  but  frequently  unripened. 

A  noticeable  instance  of  this  difference  is  seen  in 
the  fact,  that  the  winter  blight  of  the  Pear  has  never 
been  known  on  the  rich,  but  light  soils  of  New  Jersey 


SOILS   FOK   PEAKS.  4:1 

and  Long  Island,  which  seem  peculiarly  adapted  to 
the  growth,  productiveness,  and  longevity  of  the  Pear ; 
while  the  winter  of  1855  destroyed  many  thousands 
of  pear  trees  on  the  strong  soils  of  the  counties  of 
Central  ]STew  York.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Syracuse, 
this  was  especially  remarkable. 

Nothing  can  be  more  fatal  to  the  hopes  of  the  pear 
grower  than  the  selection  of  his  trees  from  an  alluvial 
flat.  Blight  at  some  period  of  their  existence  is  sure 
to  manifest  itself  in  a  great  number  of  them.  Free 
soils,  however,  it  must  be  granted,  are  subject  to 
balancing  evils,  in  affording  shelter  to  innumerable 
tribes  of  insect  depredators,  in  fostering  the  produc- 
tion of  equally  innumerable  varieties  of  weeds,  and 
in  more  readily  parting  with  moisture  and  manure. 

A  more  nearly  perfect  soil  as  a  base,  for  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  Pear,  is  a  somewhat  heavy  loam,  composed 
of  three-fourths  of  coarsely  granulated  sand,  fifteen  to 
twenty  per  cent  of  clay,  and  the  remainder  of  vege- 
table matter.  This  should  rest  upon  a  subsoil  of  sand 
and  clay,  extending  to  the  depth  of  three  or  four  feet. 
A  bed  of  gravel  should  underlie  the  whole,  thus  afford- 
ing perfect  under-drainage.  It  would  be  well  for  the 
planter,  before  engaging  largely  in  the  business,  to 
ascertain  the  longevity  and  productiveness  of  such 
pear  trees  as  are  growing  in  his  neighborhood.  Many 
of  the  old  Dutch  residences  of  Brooklyn,  erected  long 
before  the  Revolution,  bearing  evidence  of  the  mili- 
tary violence  of  that  period,  are  surrounded  by  trees 
older  than  themselves — trees  that  have  outlived  two 
or  three  generations  of  houses,  each  of  which  may 
have  seen  as  many  generations  of  men  pass  away. 


42  PEEPAEATION   OF   THE   SOIL. 

Mr.  Downing  certainly  made  a  great  mistake  when, 
in  writing  a  description  of  the  soils  suitable  for  the 
Pear,  he  pronounced  a  sandy  loam  unfitted  for  the 
permanent  growth  of  the  tree.  Two  or  three  hours' 
ride  through  the  western  end  of  Long  Island  would 
have  convinced  him  that  there  were,  in  that  locality, 
more  pear  trees,  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  years  old, 
than  in  all  the  rest  of  the  United  States.  The  number 
of  pear  trees,  more  than  forty  years  old,  in  King's  and 
Queen's  counties  alone,  must  be  greater  than  fifty 
thousand.  At  Greenpoint,  L.  I.,  now  the  Seventeenth 
Ward  of  Brooklyn,  may  be  seen  an  orchard  of  more 
than  one  hundred  pear  trees,  which  the  oldest  resi- 
dents remember  to  have  been  of  full  size,  and  in  full 
bearing,  in  their  boyhood.  Three  of  these  trees  I  have 
found  to  measure  respectively  nine  feet,  ten  and  one- 
half,  and  eleven  feet  in  circumference.  These  last 
cannot  have  been  in  existence  less  than  one  hundred 
and  fifty  years. 

These  were  the  offspring  of  seed  planted  by  the 
Dutch  and  Huguenot  exiles,  about  the  time  of  the 
settlement  of  the  town  in  1648  ;  and  are  certainly  good 
evidence  of  the  longevity  of  the  Pear,  on  compara- 
tively light  soils.  I  do  not  assert,  however,  that  trees 
planted  on  thin,  sandy  soils,  especially  such  as  overlie 
an  impervious,  or  a  poisonous  subsoil,*  would  not  be 
liable  to  blight.  On  such  soils,  the  roots,  compelled 
to  keep  near  the  surface,  are  exposed  to  the  sudden 
and  extreme  heatR  of  summer,  by  which  their  sup  is 
BO  highly  heated  as  to  destroy  the  more  newly -formed 

*  As  la  the  case,  to  a  limited  extent,  in  some  districts  of  New  Jersey,  where  the 
protoxide  of  iron— so  injurious  to  vegetation— prevails. 


TRANSPORTING.  43 

and  tender  spongioles  and  sap-vessels.  In  such  case, 
the  roots  are  said  to  be  scalded ;  because,  at  their 
shallow  position,  they  are  unable  to  obtain  sufficient 
moisture  for  the  supply  of  the  leaves,  which,  by  their 
abundant  evaporation,  lower  the  temperature  of  the 
sap — vapor  being  so  perfect  a  conductor  of  heat.  The 
frozen  sap-blight  has  not,  within  the  memory  of  man, 
been  known  to  visit  the  localities  above-mentioned, 
except  under  the  circumstances  noted  relating  to 
subsoils. 

TRANSPORTING. 

Trees  ought  always  to  be  packed,  when  the  distance 
from  the  nursery  to  their  destination  is  greater  than 
can  be  accomplished  in  three  or  four  hours ;  and,  even 
in  the  latter  case,  their  roots  should  be  well  protected. 
Packing  is  a  labor  that  most  nurserymen  would  avoid, 
as  the  charge  seldom  covers  the  bare  cost  of  labor  and 
material;  but  no  man  who  values  health  and  vigor  in 
his  trees  will  grudge  five  times  the  usual  charge,  if  its 
payment  was  necessary.  Indeed,  it  ought  to  be  a 
standing  rule  with  nurserymen  to  charge  such  a  price 
for  trees  as  would  cover  the  cost  of  packing ;  and  then 
to  pack  them  would  be  a  matter  of  course,  which  the 
mistaken  economy  of  the  customer  would  not  induce 
him  to  avoid. 

Unless  the  purchaser  has  bought  only  a  small  num- 
ber of  trees,  he  should  order  them  to  be  packed  in 
boxes,  that  will  endure  the  rough  handling  of  freight- 
men,  and  protect  them  from  bending,  breaking,  and 
exposure. 

If  trees  are  to  be  removed  long  distances  in  tight 


44  PREPARATION   OF  THE  SOIL. 

cases,  they  should  be  moderately  dry,  as  if  wet,  or 
packed  with  very  damp  moss,  or  straw,  they  are  liable 
to  grow  or  to  heat,  and  mould. 

Straw  and  other  coarse  material  should  be  distri- 
buted among  the  tops,  and  moss  among  the  roots, 
separating  not  only  the  layers  of  trees,  but,  as  far  as 
possible,  the  individual  trees  and  roots  from  each 
other.  When  the  transit  is  by  water  for  a  long  dis- 
tance, the  moss  should  be  dried,  as  sufficient  humidity 
will  be  gathered  on  the  passage ;  and  the  roots  should 
be  first  dipped  in  a  mortar,  composed  of  clay  and 
water,  by  which  they  will  receive  a  coating  of  earth, 
which  will  protect  each  rootlet  from  the  atmosphere. 


PAET   II. —THE    SEEDLING,    AND   PKOPA- 
GATION  OF  YAEIETIES. 

THE   SEEDLING. 

IT  is  surprising  that  so  little  attention  has  been  paid 
to  the  perfection  of  the  seeds  which  form  the  germ 
of  the  trees  we  so  highly  value.  Pear  seeds  are 
peculiarly  liable  to  prove  defective,  being  gathered 
from  all  sources ;  and  although  they  have  recently  sold 
at  prices,  varying  from  one  hundred  to  two  hundred 
dollars  per  bushel,  there  has  not  been  a  strict  scrutiny 
as  to  their  quality.  The  dealer  cannot  be  too  severely 
blamed  for  this,  as  no  standard  of  excellence  has  beeh 
established  by  the  nurserymen.  The  latter  is  intent 
only  on  procuring  a  large  supply  of  stocks  for  bud- 
ding, and  as  the  results  of  inherent  weakness  in  the 
stocks  do  not  always  manifest  themselves  in  the  nur- 
sery, he  entertains  but  little  anxiety  aSout  the  source 
or  defects  of  the  seeds  he  plants. 

After  abundant  experience,  I  am  satisfied,  that  not 
one-half  of  the  pear  seeds  sown  vegetate ;  and  of  those 
that  do,  not  more  than  one-fourth  produce  healthy 
stocks,  and  that  of  the  hundreds  of  thousands  of  trees 
sold  from  the  nurseries,  not  one  in  five  reaches  its 
tenth  year. 

Carelessness  in  transportation,  ignorance,  or  indo- 


46  SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF  VARIETIES. 

lence  in  planting,  and  neglect  or  absolute  abuse  in 
cultivation,  are  fatal  to  thousands ;  but  the  indiffer- 
ence of  the  seed  collector  to  the  condition  of  health 
in  the  seed,  equals  all  other  causes  in  destructiveness. 
If  the  ^fruit  is  unripe,  the  seed  must  necessarily  be 
imperfect,  and  the  perry  pomace  is  usually  formed 
from  fruit,  of  which  but  a  small  portion  is  perfectly 
ripe.  The  variety  of  pear  from  which  seed  is  to 
be  taken  is  never  considered,  except  by  amateurs; 
and  as  many  of  our  varieties  are  known  to  be  tender 
in  their  wood,  tardy  in  their  growth,  or  badly  shaped, 
and  short-lived,  the  fruit  cracking  or  rotting  at  the 
core,  the  offspring  must  be  more  or  less  corrupted  by 
these  defects.  If  allowed  to  remain  only  for  a  short 
time  in  the  pomace  or  rotten  fruit,  acetous  ferment- 
ation begins ;  and  the  seed  commencing  to  vegetate, 
the  germ  is  injured  by  the  acid. 

It  must  have  been  noticed  that  few  seedlings  make 
their  appearance  on  ground  where  apples  or  pears  have 
fallen,  or  been  deposited  after  rotting  in  the  cellar, 
while  from  the  dung  of  animals  fed  on  them,  seed- 
lings start  from  almost  every  dropping;  in  the  latter 
instance,  all  the  fermenting  acid  matter  of  the  pulp 
had  been  appropriated  in  the  economy  of  digestion. 

Pear-seeds  are  injured,  not  only  by  being  kept 
moist  for  a  long  time,  but  quite  as  often  in  the  process 
of  drying,  and  from  being  kept  too  dry.  Large  masses 
of  moist  seeds  engender  heat,  but  if  the  latter  are  ex- 
posed to  constant  atmospherical  drying,  the  germ  of 
oaany  of  the  seeds  would  become  greatly  injured. 
?ear-seeds,  soon  after  being  cleaned  from  the  pulp, 
hould  be  separated  from  each  other  by  some  desic- 


TFE    SEEDLING.  47 

eating  material,  such  as  sand,  charcoal  dust,  &c. 
From  experience,  we  have  found,  that  to  obtain 
healthy  seedlings  for  budding  or  grafting,  the  seed 
must  be  selected  from  healthy  and  vigorous  trees. 

In  any  part  of  a  pear-growing  country,  there  may 
oe  found  large,  vigorous  trees,  producing  from  ten  to 
twenty  bushels  of  small,  well-shaped,  but  unmarket- 
able pears,  having  large  and  full  developed  seed — which 
fruit  can  be  purchased  for  a  small  sum.  These  should 
not  all  be  gathered  at  once,  but  at  three  or  four  periods 
—obtaining  at  each  time  only  those  that  are  ripe  or 
nearly  so.  As  fast  as  they  become  quite  soft,  the  seeds 
may  be  pressed  out  and  sifted  frorii  the  pomace, 
and  before  becoming  quite  dry,  or  indeed  they  may 
immediately,  be  mixed  with  two  or  three  times  their 
bulk  of  the  sand  and  charcoal  dust,  &c.,  and  after 
drying  for  a  few  days  be  preserved  until  Spring. 
Much  has  been  said  of  late  about  the  adaptation  of 
varieties  to  each  other ;  that  is,  that  certain  varieties 
of  pear  should  be  grafted  upon  those  having  the  same 
habits  of  growth.  But  upon  a  large  scale  this  is 
impracticable. 

Some  English  nurserymen  prefer  the  seeds  of  the 
Virgalieu,  as  they  are  large  and  full,  and  Mr.  Berck- 
mans  has  often  told  me  that  he  has  found  all  varieties 
do  well  on  the  Yirgalieu  stock.  There  is  little  doubt 
that  the  stocks  produced  from  the  seeds  of  the  more 
advanced  and  refined  varieties  produce  fruit,  when 
grafted  upon,  sooner  than  in  inferior  seedlings.  But 
there  is  the  serious  drawback,  that  the  finer  varieties 
are  shorter  lived,  and  ihore  subject  to  disease,  than  the 
Crab  Pear,  almost  in  the  ratio  of  their  excellence. 


4:8  SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF   VAEIETIE8. 

From  information  of  the  use  of  a  crab  pear,  in  Con- 
necticut, known  as  the  Perry,  and  from  its  great  vigor, 
hardiness,  and  longevity,  I  anticipate  excellent  results 
from  its  use  as  a  stock. 

After  what  has  been  said,  it  will  be  almost  unne- 
cessary to  state  that  varieties  subject  to  blight ;  or 
fruit  from  trees  that  have  been  injured  by  it,  must 
always  be  avoided  by  the  seed  collector.  One  cause 
of  defect  and  failure  in  trees  is,  the  selection  of  suckers 
for  stocks.  It  has  been  customary  for  some  nursery- 
men, during  the  great  demand  for  pear  stocks,  and 
their  consequent  scarcity,  to  employ  the  vagrant  and 
wandering  families  of  negroes  to  grub  up  the  suckers 
in  woods,  and  around  old  pear  trees,  for  use  in  the 
nursery.  Of  the  disadvantages  attending  the  use  of 
such  stocks,  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  speak. 

PLANTING   SEED CULTIVATION   OF   SEEDLINGS. 

The  seeds  should  be  sown  in  October,  after  frost  has 
made  its  appearance,  or  in  early  spring.  The  former 
is  thought  by  many  to  be  preferable.  The  conditions 
favorable  to  their  growth,  are  the  same  as  for  the  best 
cultivation  of  trees.  The  soil  should  be  deep,  dry, 
well  pulverized,  and  moderately  rich.  When  grown 
in  very  rich  or  damp  soils,  they  make  a  rank,  luxuriant 
growth,  but  form  excellent  subjects  for  that  pestilence 
of  the  Pear  tree — the  blight.  Indeed,  of  all  seedlings, 
not  exotic,  I  think  the  Pear  has  generally  proved  the 
most  difficult  to  grow.  If  the  soil  should  be  poor,  the 
plant  is  stunted  and  small;  and  such  plants  seldom 
attain  a  vigorous  condition,  and  are  entirely  unworthy 
of  use  as  stocks  for  budding. 


CULTIVATION   OF   SEEDLINGS.  49 

To  secure  the  proper  mean  requires  good  and  care- 
ful management.  The  soil  should  rather  be  a  rich 
mould  from  an  old  pasture  or  meadow,  than  one  re- 
cently manured  ;  and  not  largely  composed  of  leaf  or 
swamp  muck,  which  would  tend  to  form  a  succulent 
and  unripe  growth.  When  but  a  few  thousand  are 
needed — the  best  plan  is  to  form  a  bed  in  some  dry  or 
well  drained  spot,  in  the  following  manner — for 
10,000  seedlings,  dig  out  a  space  thirty  feet  by  fifty, 
two  feet  deep,  and  return  only  the  surface  soil;  to 
this  add:  earth  from  old  headlands,  sods  from  a 
pasture,  which  have  been  rotted  during  the  previous 
summer,  with  three  or  four  loads  of  leaf  or  swamp 
muck,  which  has  been  one  year  exposed,  and  a  similar 
quantity  of  well  rotted  barn-yard  manure.  These, 
with  a  bushel  or  two  of  lime,  or  what  is  greatly 
preferred,  fifty  pounds  of  super-phosphate  of  lime, 
should  be  thoroughly  intermixed  ;  and  the  seed  sown 
in  rows  one  foot  apart.  In  this  manner,  if  the  season 
should  prove  to  be  one  of  drought,  the  bed  may  be 
watered  and  shaded  from  the  sun  during  the  hottest 
weather.  It  is  important  to  obtain  a  large  early 
growth  ;  so  that,  by  the  first  of  August,  they  should  be 
at  least  a  foot  to  eighteen  inches  high,  and  quite  stocky 
It  would  be  much  better  if  the  seedlings  could  have 
a  greater  distance  between  them ;  but  this  peculiar 
management  would  be  found  quite  impracticable  on  a 
large  scale.  Newly-cleared  wood  land,  when  dry,  and 
cultivated  for  two  years,  is  favorable  to  the  growth 
of  seedlings  ;  and  in  all  cases,  soil  which  has  not  before 
grown  fruit  trees,  must  be  selected,  and  nearly  or  quite 
as  deeply  tilled  as  the  bed  above  described.  Unless 

3 


50  SEEDLING — PROPAGATION   OF   VARIETIES. 

a  good  growth  is  early  secured,  the  plants  are  liable 
to  two  serious  disadvantages  : 

First,  if  they  should  continue  late  in  growth,  and 
the  early  frosts  overtake  them  with  succulent  and  un- 
ripened  wood,  the  frozen  sap-blight  will  often  destroy 
them,  unless  amply  protected  by  removal  and  burial 
in  the  soil.  And,  secondly,  pear  seedlings  are  fre- 
quently attacked  in  the  hot  mid-summer  months  by 
a  sort  of  rust,  that  appears  in  spots  on  the  leaves, 
which  soon  after  ripen,  and  then  the  growth  ceases. 

The  only  preventives  are,  to  secure  a  full  growth 
early  in  the  season,  or  to  shade  the  plants  during  the 
continuance  of  the  hot  weather. 

In  the  latter  part  of  July,  or  early  part  of  August, 
when  the  growth  has  become  somewhat  checked,  and 
many  of  the  leaves  are  ripening,  the  tap-roots  may  be 
cut  by  thrusting  a  long  handled  instrument — some- 
what like  a  spade,  but  of  half  the  width 2  thinner 
and  quite  sharp — in  an  oblique  direction,  beneath  the 
plants,  six  to  eight  inches  below  the  surface.  This  is 
practiced  in  England  and  France  much  earlier,  say 
in  the  middle  of  June,  but  is  objectionable  on  account 
of  checking  their  growth.  In  the  first  method,  the 
retiring  sap  will  form  new  fibrous  roots,  which  will 
much  assist  the  growth  in  another  season. 

In  the  fall,  pear  seedlings  must  always  be  removed, 
and  the  first  grown  and  best  rooted  selected  for  the 
nursery  rows,  to  be  budded  the  next  summer.  The 
second  quality  also  is  sometimes  planted  in  the  nur- 
sery for  budding  the  second  summer ;  but  seedlings  of 
the  third  quality,  and  sometimes  of  the  second,  are,  the 
next  spring,  replanted  in  the  bed — not  being  sufficiently 


OBTAINING   NEW   SEEDLING   VARIETIES.  51 

vigorous  for  budding.  The  winter  is  often  fatal  to 
seedlings  in  the  bed,  by  heaving  them  out  of  the  ground. 
They  are  therefore  packed  in  sand  in  the  cellar,  or  are 
buried,  top  and  roots,  in  close  beds,  until  spring,  for 
preservation. 

OBTAINING  NEW    SEEDLING   VARIETIES. 

These  are  the  result  of  accidental  or  intentional 
hybridization,  or  of  the  natural  tendency  of  the  seed  to 
change,  both  in  the  character  of  the  fruit,  and  the 
habit  of  the  tree.  It  may  be  assumed  that,  although 
seedlings  of  pears  resemble  the  parent,  yet  that  no 
two  seedlings,  of  cultivated  varieties  at  least,  produce 
fruit  exactly  alike. 

The  fruit  of  some  of  the  natural  seedlings — that  is, 
those  not  produced  by  complex  hybridization,  and 
found  growing  without  the  aid  of  art — often  reproduce 
their  variety  by  their  seed  ;  or,  at  least,  plants  of  almost 
perfect  similarity.  But  there  is  ever  a  constant  ten- 
dency in  the  most  luscious  and  melting  varieties  to 
return  to  the  wild  state.  Yan  Mons,  of  Belgium,  who 
expended  a  life-time  in  experiments  on  the  variation 
of  pear  seedlings,  held  the  theory,  that  "  wild  pear 
trees,  in  a  state  of  nature  and  in  their  native  soils, 
always  reproduced  seed  without  perceptible  variation ; 
but  that,  as  soon  as  the  original  circumstances  are 
altered,  and  the  seed  is  planted  in  a  new  climate  or 
soil,  change  commences."  His  theory  is  at  this  time 
familiar  to  all,  and  need  be  but  briefly  alluded  to  here. 
The  pear  selected  for  its  seed  must  have  travelled, 
one  step  at  least,  away  from  the  acrid  crab.  It  is 
essential  moreover,  that  it  should  not  be  of  the  higher 


52  SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF   VARIETIES. 

order,  as  lie  asserted  the  theory,  that  at  or  near  the 
sixth  generation  of  successive  seedlings,  the  highest 
point  of  excellence  is  reached,  and  a  rapid  declension 
begins.  I  have  nowhere  seen  confirmatory  examples 
of  the  last  portion  of  his  dogma. 

The  seeds  of  the  variety  being  chosen,  its  fruiting 
was  to  be  accelerated  by  every  means,  as  the  short  life 
of  man  would  scarcely  suffice  for  the  six  generations 
required,  when  the  fruiting  of  each  was  extended  to 
the  natural  term  of  fifteen  to  twenty  years.  The  seed- 
lings were  therefore  subjected  to  root  pruning,  summer 
pinching,  ringing  of  the  bark  and  twisting  of  the  limbs, 
until  the  sap  retarded  in  its  passage  was  tortured  into 
forming  fruit. 

The  seeds  of  the  first  generation,  whose  fruit  would 
exhibit  but  slight  amelioration,  were  sown,  and  the 
fruiting  hastened  in  the  same  way,  and  the  seeds 
sown  successively  until  the  fifth  and  sixth  generations 
were  reached.  From  these  he  produced  a  great  variety 
of  glorious  fruits. 

The  limits  designed  for  this  book  will  not  permit 
even  a  hint  at  the  extensive  discussion  this  theory  has 
elicited,  but  few  can  doubt  at  this  day,  that  the  cause 
of  the  variation  in  all  cases  is  hybridization  through 
the  flowers.  I  have  never  seen  evidence  sufficient 
to  convince  me  that  the  continual  cultivation  of  a 
crab  pear  would  ever  alter  its  characteristics  in  the 
individual  tree  or  its  grafts. 

Amateurs  do  not,  however,  cultivate  or  preserve 
every  seedling  produced.  Certain  indications  govern, 
them  in  their  selections  in  the  seed-bed,  or  soon  after 


OBTAINING   NEW   SEEDLING   VAItEETIES.  53 

transplanting,  and  those  only  receive  great  care  and 
attention  which  are  of  promising  appearance. 

If  the  leaves  of  a  seedling  exhibit  an  excess  of  down, 
or  the  branches  are  very  thorny,  the  probabilities  are 
against  its  proving  of  sufficient  excellence  to  warrant 
its  cultivation.  To  these  marks  of  inferiority,  I  have 
added,  from  my  own  observation,  a  peculiar  bright, 
deep  green,  not  easily  described,  a  remarkable  vigor 
of  growth,  an  unusual  quantity  of  limbs,  and  a  thick 
bushy  foliage.  The  formation  of  fruit  for  any  other 
purposes  than  reproduction,  or  the  mere  creation  of 
seeds,  is  an  unnatural  process — or,  in  other  words,  is 
produced  by  artificial  means.  None  of  our  finest 
varieties  of  pears  equal  seedlings  in  their  profuseness 
of  foliage  and  shoots.  In  the  former,  the  number  of 
shoots  is  generally  less  and  the  growth  much  stouter, 
more  stocky  and  straight. 

When  this  is  the  appearance  of  the  young  seedling, 
and  the  leaf  is  bright  and  oleaginous,  instead  of  dull 
and  downy,  when  the  petiole  of  the  leaf  is  long  and 
clean,  when  the  color  of  the  wood  is  more  inclining 
to  purple  or  yellow  than  bright  green,  and  when  the 
spurs  and  spines  which  appear  are  blunt,  instead  of 
long,  sharp,  and  thorn-like,  we  may  reasonably  con- 
clude that  a  new  variety  of  some  excellence  will  be 
produced. 

If  the  fruit  sets  well  in  spring,  and  continues  to  grow, 
although  frosts  and  blasting  winds  have  injured  other 
fruit,  it  is  a  sign  of  hardiness ;  and  if  more  than  three 
to  six  fruits  set  in  a  single  coronal  of  flowers,  it  is  a 
fair  signal  of  great  productiveness.  More  than  one 
season  will  be  necessary  to  prove  its  excellence,  as 


54:  SEEDLING — PROPAGATION   OF    VARIETIES. 

many  promising  fruits,  in  their  first  season,  have 
important  defects,  such  as  rotting  at  the  core,  gritti- 
ness,  or  astriiigency.  Some  excellent  pears  have 
been  discarded  as  outcasts  in  their  first  fruiting, 
which  subsequently  proved  to  be  worthy  of  high  rank. 
It  has  been  advised  not  to  hasten  the  fruiting  of  seed- 
lings, by  budding  on  the  quince  or  grafting  on  older 
trees,  as  it  is  supposed  to  change  the  character  of  the 
fruits  too  much  for  identification  in  future  growth; 
but  for  these  opinions  I  can  see  no  good  reasons.  M. 
De  Jonge,  of  Brussels,  says : 

"  A  bud  inserted  near  the  ground  in  a  quince  stock, 
will  produce  fruit  in  the  third  or  fourth  year ;  and, 
though  the  wood  may  acquire  a  different  tinge,  yet 
the  form  of  the  fruit  will  remain  the  same,  although 
some  varieties  may  be  larger,  of  richer  flavor,  and  in 
greater  abundance.  These  effects  are,  however,  excep- 
tions, and  are  attributable  to  the  sort  of  quince,  of 
which  there  are  several  varieties,  differing  as  widely  in 
their  influence  on  the  Pear,  as  the  varieties  of  the 
wild  pear  employed  for  stock." 

The  period  of  time  required  to  prove  a  new  variety 
will  exhaust  the  patience  of  most  persons.  Three 
years  will  be  required  to  judge  if  the  seedling  promises 
sufficiently  to  encourage  its  cultivation ;  seven  years 
more,  with  pruning  and  good  cultivation,  to  produce 
fruit;  five  years  more,  of  successive  fruiting,  to 
definitively  test  its  quality,  and  correctly  determine  its 
worth. 

Fifteen  years  of  extra  care  and  attention  are  thus 
required  to  prove  a  single  variety  ;  and  if  to  this  we 
add  ten  years  more,  before  it  can  be  extensively 


HYBRIDIZING.  55 

known  and  cultivated,  we  may  see  how  slowly  the 
labors  of  the  pomologist  are  crowned  with  success, 
but  this  period  may  be  abridged  one-half  by  working 
upon  the  Quince. 

In  Mr.  HOVEY'S  splendid  collection  of  American 
Seedling  Pears  are  some  of  remarkable  promise. 
Among  those  termed  by  Mr.  HOVEY,  Dana's  Seed- 
lings^ are  several  which  are  admitted  by  such  excellent 
judges  as  Mr.  Louis  BERCKMANS,  to  possess  signs  of 
rare  goodness. 

Many  seedling  collections  would  amply  repay  the 
labor  and  cost  bestowed  upon  their  cultivation ;  while 
in  others,  labor  would  be  entirely  thrown  away  upon 
thousands  of  worthless  varieties,  without  securing  one 
valuable  sort. 

HYBRIDIZING. 

It  is  often  desirable  to  combine  the  qualities  of  two 
pears  in  a  new  variety,  and  this  is  practicable  only 
through  their  flowers.  "When  the  blossoms  are  about 
to  open,  inclose  the  cluster  selected  with  a  lace  bag, 
and  when  perfectly  expanded,  cut  away  the  stamens 
or  male  organs  of  the  blossoms,  and  with  a  small  color- 
brush  gather  the  pollen  from  the  anthers  of  the  variety 
with  which  it  is  designed  to  cross,  and  impregnate 
the  pistils  left  standing  in  the  blossoms — which  should 
again  be  inclosed  in  the  lace  bag  until  the  petals'  fall 
(Figs.  1  and  2).  The  seeds  taken  from  this  fruit,  when 
ripened,  should  be  planted  with  care,  and  a  full  detail 
of  the  double  parentage  noted.  It  by  no  means  fol- 
lows that  these  seeds  will  all  produce  the  same  fruit, 
for  the  original  varieties  from  which  they  have  been 
derived  will  exercise  more  or  less  influence  in  causing 
them  to  vary. 


56  SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF   VARIETIES. 

Tlie  stamens  when  cut  away  must  not  be  ripe 
enough  for  their  pollen  to  communicate  with  and 

Fig.  2. 
Fig.L 


Fig.  1    A  fruit  bud  near  blossoming. 

Fig.  2.    Represents  a  coronal  of  flowers  from  a  single  bud. 

fertilize  their  own  pistils.  The  pollen  used  for  impreg- 
nating must  be  ripe  and  powdery,  and  the  stigma  of 
the  pistil  must  be  damp.  It  was  in  this  way  that  Mr. 
KNIGHT  produced  his  Monarch,  Dummore,  and  other 
fine  Pears,  though  the  general  results  of  this  process 
do  not  seem  to  be  remarkable. 

Mr.  Louis  BERCKMANS,  from  whom  I  have  freely 
drawn  information  for  this  work,  has  some  30,000 
seedlings  of  his  own  propagation  and  of  collections 
from  YAN  MONS,  ESPERIN,  BIVORT,  Dr.  BRINCKLE,  and 
other  eminent  pomologists,  which  he  has  selected  by 
various  marks  and  tokens  which  are  eloquent  to  him 
in  prophesying  the  merits  of  their  fruits.  He  does 
not,  I  think,  after  a  long  experience,  pay  much  atten- 
tion to  artificial  hybridization  for  producing  new 
varieties. 

Notwithstanding  the  splendid  results  of  a  systematic 


LEAF-BLIGHT  OF   SEEDLINGS.  57 

improvement  of  the  Pear,  and  the  noble  fruits  obtained 
by  the  gentlemen  named,  we  have  been  indebted  to 
accident,  or  rather  to  the  voluntary  contributions  of 
Nature,  for  those  pears  which  rank  the  highest  in 
beauty,  flavor,  and  general  excellence.  The  Duchesse, 
found  in  a  hedge  at  Angers  ;  the  Seckel,  in  the  woods 
of  Pennsylvania ;  the  Yirgalieu,  the  Bartlett,  and  the 
Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey,  whose  origin  is  not  believed 
to  be  the  subject  of  design,  all  confirm  this  view; 
while  we  must  acknowledge  that  there  is  a  delicacy 
in  the  constitution  of  many  of  the  pears  obtained  by 
scientific  propagation,  that  renders  them  inferior  to 
the  accidental  varieties. 

In  fact,  the  superior  vigor  and  hardiness  of  those 
varieties  obtained  through  accident,  alone  enabled 
them  to  survive  the  neglect  and  difficulties  under 
which  they  sprang  into  existence  ;  the  high-flavored, 
large,  and  truly  splendid  varieties  produced  by  scien- 
tific skill  and  high  cultivation,  maintain  their  superi- 
ority only  under  the  conditions  in  which  they  were 
nurtured.  I  have  seen  the  Duchesse  d'Angoul^me 
growing  on  quince  stock,  for  twelve  years,  in  a  grass 
plot,  without  attention,  where  it  had  been  planted 
when  twenty  years  old,  and  yet  producing  large, 
melting  fruit. 

A  Flemish  Beauty,  Beurre  Bosc,  or  Beurre  Diel  would 
have  succumbed  under  this  treatment  long  before. 

LEAF-BLIGHT   OF   SEEDLINGS. 

Leaf-blight  is  the  terror  of  nurserymen,  and  when 
it  makes  its  decided  appearance,  his  hope  of  success 
for  the  season  is  at  an  end. 

3* 


58  SEEDLING — PROPAGATION   OF  VARIETIES. 

The  disease  is  not  necessarily  fatal,  but  when  plants 
in  the  seed-bed  are  attacked  by  it,  the  cultivator  will 
almost  desire  that  they  had  perished  outright ;  as  great 
numbers  of  them  will  be  checked  so  prematurely  in 
their  growth,  as  to  be  unable  to  endure  the  rigor  of 
the  next  winter. 

On  the  first  appearance  of  the  disease,  small  brown 
spots  are  seen  upon  the  under  side  of  the  leaves  of  the 
weaker  plants  in  the  seed-bed  or  nursery  rows,  which 
spread  quickly  over  the  whole  leaf,  and  in  a  few  days, 
over  the  entire  collection  of  plants.  Growth  stops  at 
once,  the  leaves  fall,  and  budding  for  that  season  is 
of  course  prevented.  At  this  period  all  nostrums  and 
chemicals  are  useless.  The  fact  that  this  disease  pre- 
vails most  in  old  nursery  grounds,  and  indeed  is 
almost  confined  to  soils  long  cultivated,  points  to  the 
necessity  of  restoring  to  the  soil  its  original  qualities, 
or  of  planting  only  in  new  soils.  The  disease  is  doubt- 
less of  fungous  character,  and  as  its  appearance  on 
the  leaf  would  indicate,  is  highly  contagious.  As 
remarked  twenty  years  since,  it  is  much  more  pre- 
valent upon  the  leaves  of  seedling  stocks  than  upon 
those  of  budded  and  fine  varieties.  Buds  set  in  stocks 
attacked  with  this  pestilence,  and  which  have  suffi- 
cient vitality  for  growth,  produce  healthy  trees,  whose 
leaves  remain  unspotted.  This  has  afforded  a  curious 
subject  for  speculation  among  pomologists. 

Mr.  DOWNING  supposed  this  disease  to  be  identical 
with  the  cracking  and  cankering  of  the  fruit  of  some 
varieties. 

Some  kinds  of  pear  trees  in  bearing  in  my  grounds 
are  slightly  attacked  every  year,  but  the  disease  makes 


PROPAGATION   BY   LAYERS    AND   CUTTINGS.  59 

no  progress ;  the  small  number  of  leaves  affected  drop 
off,  and  growth,  commences  again,  though  the  fruit 
does  not  acquire  more  than  half  size.  The  best  pre- 
ventives are :  to  plant  in  new,  deep,  and  rich  soils  ; 
to  cultivate  well  and  obtain  a  good,  strong  growth 
before  the  first  of  August. 

An  article  upon  this  subject,  exhibiting  evidence  of 
close  investigation,  and  containing  suggestions  of  much 
value,  was  written  for  The  Horticulturist  some  years 
since,  by  Mr.  H.  E.  HOOKER,  of  Rochester. 

PROPAGATION   BY   LAYERS    AND   CUTTINGS. 

With  the  Pear  this  is  always  a  difficult  process,  and 
requires  nice  management.  If  the  theory  regarding 
the  necessity  of  affinity  between  the  stock  and  the 
graft  is  worthy  of  attention,  propagation  by  layers  is 
important,  for  nothing  can  be  nearer  in  affinity  to  a 
variety  than  the  variety  itself.  Some  varieties  are 
much  more  easily  propagated  in  this  manner  than 
others,  but  when  the  proper  conditions  are  observed, 
success  is  attainable  with  all.  When  the  leaves  are 
ripening  in  the  early  part  of  August,  the  lower  shoots 
of  the  present  year's  growth  should  have  the  bark 
and  sappy  wood  cut  through  on  the  lower  side,  to 
about  one  third  of  the  diameter  of  the  shoot.  Some- 
times a  ring  of  bark  about  an  eighth  of  an  inch  wide 
may  be  removed  entirely  around.  The  shoot  is  then 
bent  down  into  a  hole  (care  being  taken  not  to  break 
it  at  the  cut),  and  covered  with  fine  soil,  tightly 
packed.  The  retiring  sap  from  the  ripened  leaves  is 
arrested  at  the  incision,  and  there  forms  rootlets.  I 
have  succeeded  by  this  method  in  producing  hand- 


60  SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF   VARIETIES. 

some  trees  from  about  one  half  of  the  branches  lay- 
ered. When  it  is  desirable  to  do  this  somewhat 
extensively,  a  "  stool "  may  be  formed  by  cutting  off 
the  tree  about  a  foot  above  the  ground.  The  next 
season  there  will  be  produced  a  dozen  or  more  thrifty 
shoots  from  a  tree  two  years  old,  which  may  all  be 
layered  as  above  described.  When  the  shoots  are  too 
high  for  this  kind  of  treatment,  incisions  may  be  made 
in  them,  and  balls  of  clay  and  cow-dung  mixed  together 
put  over  the  incisions,  inclosed  with  matting,  and 
tied. 

QUINCE   STOCKS. 

These  are  always  propagated  by  layers  or  cuttings. 
Any  attempts  at  propagating  by  seeds  would  evidently 
be  unsuccessful  in  producing  a  uniform  variety  fitted 
for  budding  with  the  Pear. 

The  Angers  and,  latterly,  the  Paris  varieties  of  the 
Quince,  are  the  only  ones  in  use  for  this  purpose. 
The  qualities  needed  for  stocks  are :  free,  rapid 
growth ;  a  tendency  to  a  large  size  so  as  to  equal  the 
pear  trunk,  and  to  root  freely  from  cuttings  or  layers ; 
to  have  a  cellular  and  ligneous  formation  that  will  fit 
them  to  unite  readily  with  that  of  the  Pear.  In  those 
varieties  that  refuse  the  Pear,  or  on  which  it  makes 
an  imperfect  union,  we  shall  perceive  by  examining 
the  fracture  where  the  pear  wood  cleaves  from  the 
Quince,  that  the  adhesion  has  been  produced  simply 
by  the  irregular  and  grooved  surfaces  of  the  wood  of 
the  bud  and  the  stock,  fitting  into  each  other  without 
any  intermingling  of  the  ligneous  fibres  of  each> 
although  the  bark  of  the  two  species  has  united  to 
form  a  sheath  over  the  imperfect  union.  That  inter* 


QUINCE   STOCKS.  61 

mingling,  and  continuation  of  woody  fibres,  which 
takes  place  between  a  bud  and  its  stock  of  the  same 
species,  does  not  here  exist.  There  is,  then,  only  a 
mechanical  adhesion  of  irregular  surfaces,  held  to- 
gether by  a  sheath  of  bark. 

The  apparent  antipathy  of  some  varieties  of  the 
Pear  to  the  Quince  is,  doubtless,  owing  to  the  resist- 
ance made  by  the  different  texture  and  cellular  form- 
ation of  the  Quince  to  the  returning  sap. 

It  is  probable  that,  the  cells  of  the  Quince  being 
smaller  than  those  of  the  Pear,  the  inspissated  sap  of 
tlie  latter,  on  its  return,  has  become  too  rich  in  albumen 
to  pass  into  them;  but  sufficiently  accurate  micros- 
copic experiments  have  never  been  instituted  to  pro- 
nounce decisively  upon  the  theory. 

The  tubes  of  all  woody  formations  are  not  continuous, 
but  successive — like  the  joints  of  bamboo  :  the  upper- 
ends  being  smaller,  and  fitting  into  spaces  between 
the  lower  ends  of  the  next  higher  series.  It  is  com- 
monly known  that  water  will  not  pass  readily  through 
the  smaller  tubes,  in  which  alcohol  and  ether  easily 
flow.  From  the  same  cause,  probably,  the  richer  juice 
of  the  Pear  will  not  flow  in  the  smaller  tubes  of  the 
Quince ;  and  the  consequence  is,  that  a  swelling  out  of 
the  Pear  at  that  point  is  formed  by  the  repelled  juice 
which,  not  finding  a  free  passage,  produces  no  ligneous 
fibres  or  cellular  tissue  in  the  Quince. 

PROPAGATION     OF    THE    QUINCE    BY    LAYERS    AND 
CUTTINGS. 

The  Quince  forms  a  notable  exception  to  all  other 
fruit  trees  in  its  ability  to  form  roots  readily  from  any 


>AGATK>X   OF   VJ 


put  of  its  bark.  The  propagation  of  the  Angers 
Quince,  by  layers  or  cuttings,  is  manifest!  j  onl  j  a  con- 
tinuation of  the  original  individual  tree. 


not  later  M«m  January,  since  the  buds  will  begin  to 
swell  in  the  early,  warm  days  of  winter.  It  is  desir- 
able that  the  buds  should  remain  in  a  completely  dor- 
mant state,  so  that  they  can  make  no  demand  upon 
the  cutting  for  sap  until  rootlets  hare  pushed  out,  and 
given  the  cutting  ability  to  furnish  it  without  exhaus- 
tion. It  is  not  generally  considered  that  roots  are 
never  added  by  influences  exterior  to  the  plant,  but 
are  the  product  of  the  plant  itself  The  roots  of  a 
cutting  are  formed  by  the  sap  contained  within  itself, 
which,  exuding  as  healing  lymph,  is  changed  into  roots 
under  the  peculiar  conditions  of  air,  moisture,  and 
darkness  —  which  process  goes  on  even  in  winter,  when 
the  ground  is  not  frozen.  It  will  be  seen,  then,  that 
those  plants  formed  with  large  evaporating  organs  in 
the  bark  will  not  readily  root,  as  they  part  too  easily 
with  their  sap.  The  dose,  dense  bark  of  the  Quince, 
and  the  hard  rind  of  the  outer  wood  of  the  Grape 
peculiarly  fit  them  for  this  method  of  propagation  ; 
and  we  consequently  find  that,  out  of  thousands  of 
cuttings  planted  of  the  Angers  variety,  but  few  fail 
of  rooting. 

The  cuttings  should  be  planted  as  early  in  spring  as 
possible,  although  their  vitality  is  so  great  as  to  sur- 
vive almost  any  treatment,  in  soils  fitted  for  them. 
During  a  rather  wet  June,  while  trimming  some  quince 
stocks,  preparatory  to  budding  in  August,  I  directed 
the  trimmings,  then  in  full  leaf,  and  with  some  inches 


PROPAGATION    OF   THE   QUINCE.  63 

of  new  growth,  to  be  planted  in  the  adjoining  ground, 
which  was  so  sandy  and  poor  that  it  had  been  left 
implanted.  Even  with  these  disadvantages,  more  than 
half  took  root,  and  made  fair  plants. 

The  cuttings  should  be  from  eight  inches  to  a  foot 
long,  and  planted  so  as  to  leave  an  inch  or  two  of  buds 
above  the  surface  of  the  ground.  The  soil  should  be 
rather  clayey,  and  retentive  of  moisture.  When  it  is 
light,  it  should  be  packed  firmly  around  the  cuttings 
with  the  foot — the  closer  the  better.  Cuttings  of  the 
Quince  will  usually  succeed  more  uniformly  in  rather 
damp  soils,  but  will  not  so  uniformly  grow  thrifty 
when  transplanted  to  drier  grounds. 

Fig.  3. 


Fig.  3.    Mother  Stool,  and  usual  Plan  of  Layering  Quince  Stock*. 

Quince  stalks  are,  however,  produced  in  much 
greater  quantities  by  layers  from  permanent  planta- 
tions of  stools.  These  are  made  by  planting  quince 
roots  about  four  feet  apart,  in  very  deep  and  richly 
manured  soils,  and  cutting  back  the  growth  every 
year  near  the  ground.  This  treatment  forces  up  a 
large  number  of  thrifty  shoots,  which  increase  in 
quantity  as  the  stock  grows  older. 


64 


SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF  VARIETIES. 


As  usually  practiced,  in  the  latter  part  of  August, 
the  earth  is  heaped  up,  and  firmly  packed  around  these 
clusters  of  shoots  or  stools,  as  in  Fig.  3. 

The  shoots  throw  out  roots  immediately,  but  are  not 
usually  separated  from  the  stock  till  the  autumn  of 
the  following  year.  It  has  not  been  customary  to 
commence  earthing  up  before  the  second  spring ;  but 
we  have  found  it  of  essential  importance  to  do  it 
earlier,  so  as  to  secure  the  benefit  of  the  concentrated 
sap  of  the  fall. 

Fig.  4. 


Fig.  4    Treatment  of  Stools  in  the  first,  second,  fourth,  and  fifth  years. 

A  much  better  plan,  practiced  by  Mr.  A.  S.  Fuller,  is 
shown  at  Fig.  4.  The  stool  is  planted  in  a  trench, 
which,  as  the  former  increases  in  size,  is,  at  the  earthing 
up  of  each  successive  crop,  filled  higher  and  higher, 
until,  at  the  removal  of  the  fifth  crop,  the  stool  is  dug 
up,  the  lower  part  of  the  root  removed,  and  the  upper 
and  more  vigorous  portion  replanted. 


PLANTING   STOCKS — SOILS    SUITABLE.  65 


PLANTING   STOCKS — SOILS  SUITABLE,  ETC. 

It  is  of  the  highest  importance  that  only  the  very 
best  rooted  plants,  either  of  quince  or  pear,  should  be 
planted  in  the  nursery.  Mr.  Barry,  than  whom  there 
is  no  higher  authority,  says,  in  his  excellent  work, 
"  The  Fruit  Garden,"  that  "  one  hundred  good,  vigor- 
ous stocks  are  worth  five  hundred  poor  ones;"  and 
some  of  us  will  live  to  see  the  day  when  customers 
will  pay  five  times  more  for  a  perfectly  healthy, 
well-grown  tree,  than  they  will  for  a  poor,  or  even 
a  medium  one."  There  are  a  few  purchasers  now  of 
the  same  opinion.  It  has  been  customary  -to  crowd 
the  nursery  rows  with  all  the  plants  that  promised  to 
survive,  planting  them  only  eight  inches  apart,  and  to 
bud  them  all,  without  discrimination,  during  the  fol- 
lowing summer.  The  consequence  has  not  unfre- 
quently  been,  a  feeble  growth  from  those  buds  that 
barely  survived ;  a  thrifty  growth  in  the  vigorous  and 
healthy  stocks ;  and  complete  failure  in  one  half  of  the 
number  planted. 

When  stocks  are  strongly  rooted,  they  should  be 
planted  in  the  fall — provided  the  ground  is  ridged  up 
against  the  rows,  to  prevent  heaving  out  in  the  winter. 
If  weakly  rooted,  and  no  extra  care  is  intended,  they 
should  be  buried  in  light,  dry  soil,  placing  the  roots 
thickly  together  in  a  trench,  and  filling  it  up  within 
a  few  inches  of  the  top.  This  should  be  done 
early,  in  order  that  the  ground  may  be  firmly  settled 
by  rains,  and  packed  about  the  roots  before  it  is 
frozen. 


66  SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF  VARIETIES. 

As  early  as  the  condition  of  the  ground  will  permit, 
the  stocks  so  treated  should  be  planted  in  nursery 
rows,  or  bedded  out.  In  bedding  out,  the  weaker 
stocks  may  be  planted  thickly,  or  only  two  or  three 
inches  apart,  in  rows,  at  a  sufficient  distance  to  permit 
plowing  between.  The  soil  should  be  strong  and 
deep,  and  the  plants  receive  thorough  cultivation. 
The  nursery  ground  should  be  deeply  worked,  and 
well  manured  a  year  previous  to  the  planting  of  the 
stocks,  in  order  that  the  application  of  fresh  and  power- 
ful manures  may  not  induce  a  succulent  and  unripe 
growth. 

The  method  of  preparing  a  plot  of  ground  planted 
recently  with  stocks,  may  not  be  inappropriate  to  this 
section.  The  soil  was  a  sandy  loam,  half  an  acre  of 
it  being  filled  with  boulders,  varying  from  the  size  of 
a  paving-stone  to  those  weighing  five  hundred  pounds 
each.  As  these  stones  were  reached  by  the  plow, 
they  were  removed  by  laborers  with  spades  and  crow- 
bars, and  placed  on  the  surface  of  the  plowed  land. 
When  a  furrow  had  been  cleared  of  stones,  the  sub- 
soil plow  was  drawn  by  a  stout  team  in  the  bottom 
of  it,  loosening  the  subsoil  to  the  depth  of  six  inches. 
This  loosened  earth  was  now  thrown  out  by  the 
common  plow,  and  the  hard  soil  again  deepened  by 
the  subsoil  plow,  until  the  whole  depth  of  loosened 
soil  was  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  inches.  The  ground 
was  then  cross-plowed,  harrowed  smooth,  furrows 
drawn  four  feet  apart,  and  deepened  with  a  spade. 
Thirty  thousand  pear  stocks  were  then  planted  one 
foot  apart  in  these  trenches.  The  whole  expense 
for  labor  was  as  follows  : 


MANURES    FOE    NURSERY   STOCKS.  67 

8  days'  labor  of  team  and  man,  in  plowing  and  subsoiling,  at 

$4 $32  00 

3  days'  labor  of  3  men  to  loosen  and  remove  rocks  and  stones, 

at  $1 9  00 

1  day's  furrowing  by  double  plowing 4  00 

27  days'  deepening  trenches,  at  $1 27  00 

20  days'  planting  stocks 20  00 

$92  00 

If  double  the  labor  had  been  devoted  to  deepening 
the  soil,  it  would  have  been  an  economic  expenditure. 
Great  care  should  be  exercised  in  securing  the  trees 
in  straight  lines,  as  a  tree  projecting  from  the  row  is 
liable  to  injury  from  the  plow. 

The  soil  must  be  dry  and  rich,  and  the  use  of  that 
common  but  vaguely  denned  term  must  not  be  mis- 
understood. Properly  expressed,  the  soil  should  be 
fertile  without  having  received  recent  applications 
of  strong  manures. 

MANURES   FOR   NURSERY   STOCKS. 

To  stimulate  a  vigorous  growth  early  in  the  season, 
an  application  of  from  three  hundred  to  five  hundred 
pounds  of  guano  per  acre  is  highly  approved.  It 
should  have  been  composted  for  a  month  previous  to 
use  with  forty  times  its  bulk  of  well  pulverized  swamp 
muck,  which  has  been  exposed  to  the  frosts  of  at  least 
one  winter  after  digging.  This  stimulating  compost, 
however,  should  be  applied  in  the  Fall,  after  growth 
has  ceased,  well  distributed,  and  plowed  in  on  soils 
otherwise  in  good  condition.  A  strong  and  stocky 
growth  of  trees  will  ensue,  and  as  this  energetic  and 
volatile  manure  will  have  exhausted  its  power  by 
midsummer,  the  young  wood  will  ripen  fully,  and 


68  SEEDLING PROPAGATION    OF   VARIETIES. 

become  hard  and  firm.  A  much  more  perfect  manure 
for  the  development  of  young  trees  is  formed  from  a 
mixture  of  guano  and  superphosphate  of  lime.  This 
I  prepare  each  winter,  and  have  found  most  excellent 
effects  from  an  application  of  six  hundred  to  one 
thousand  pounds  per  acre  in  the  strong,  healthy  growth 
and  early  fruiting  of  almost  every  tree  to  which  it  is 
applied. 

To  prepare  this  quantity  of  superphosphate,  use 
three  hundred  pounds  of  burned  bones,  or  four  hun- 
dred pounds  of  ground,  unburned  bones  dissolved  in 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  strong  sulphuric  acid 
diluted  with  twice  its  bulk  of  water,  adding  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pounds  of  Peruvian  Guano ;  the  whole 
to  be  thoroughly  intermixed.  The  excess  of  acid 
changes  the  volatile  carbonate  of  ammonia  in  the 
guano  to  the  soluble  but  non-volatile  sulphate,  which 
is  slower,  and  not  corrosive  or  injurious  in  its  action 
on  plants.  The  resulting  mixture  being  in  a  semi- 
fluid state,  some  absorbing  material  will  be  needed  to 
act  as  a  divisor.  Peat  or  swamp  muck,  nearly  dry, 
will  be  the  best  substance,  and  may  be  used  in  large 
quantities,  being  itself  composed  of  the  ligneous  and 
carbonaceous  products  of  the  growth  of  wood.  This 
compost  may  be  spread  broad-cast,  or  strewn  in  fur- 
rows plowed  near  the  rows.  The  necessity  of  furnish- 
ing the  elements  found  in  this  manure  may  be  seen 
at  once  in  the  chemical  analyses  of  the  Pear,  its  bark 
and  wood. 

On  the  farm  of  Prof.  MAPES,  several  varieties  of 
pears,  which  with  us  have  not  hitherto  maintained 
their  European  reputation,  have  been  produced,  of 


ANALYSIS  OF  THE  ASHES  OF  THE  PEAK. 


great  excellence,  by  application  of  the  phosphates. 
The  fruits  were  pronounced  by  LOTUS  BERCKMANS,  Col. 
WILDER,  and  others,  the  finest  of  their  kind  ever  grown 
in  this  country. 

A  study  of  the  following  analysis  will  show  the 
necessity  of  using  potash  in  addition  to  the  elements 
found  in  the  superphosphate  and  guano,  which  may 
be  supplied  to  the  soil  in  the  form  of  crude  potash, 
green  sand  marl,  or  woodashes.  Neither  ashes  nor 
potash  should  be  mixed  directly  with  guano  or  stable 
manures,  or  so  placed  in  the  soil  as  to  come  imme- 
diately in  contact  with  each  other. 

ANALYSIS  OP  THE  ASHES  OP  THE  PEAR. 

One  hundred  pounds  of  fruit  yield  nearly  half  a  pound  of  ashes,  the 
wood  and  bark  much  more. 


ASHES  OF 

HEART  WOOD. 

BARK. 

FRUIT. 

Potash 

27  '00 

6-20 

54-69 

Soda  

8-52 

Lime       

23-14 

33-36 

7'98 

3'00 

9'40 

5-22 

Sulphuric  Acid  

0'45 

1-80- 

5-69 

0*30 

0-40 

1-49 

Phosphoric  Acid  

10-40 

3'50 

14-28 

0-80 

2-00 

PREPARATION   OF   STOCKS   FOR   PLANTING. 

The  small  cost  of  stocks  has  induced  a  careless 
method  of  planting,  and  a  more  inexcusable  neglect 
in  preparing  them  for  it.  Quince  stocks  are  usually 
taken  from  the  mother  plant  or  stool  by  a  quick  jerk, 
which  leaves  a  large  ragged  end  ;  as  it  strips  off  the 
bark  and  wood  from  the  stool,  for  a  space  at  least 
twice  the  diameter  of  the  stock.  At  the  season  when 


70  SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF  VARIETIES. 

this  is  performed,  no  healing  lymph  exudes,  and  of 
course,  no  rootlets  are  produced ;  besides,  the  rugged 
wound  does  not  encourage  their  formation.  A  raw, 
unhealed  end  always  remains  ;  and  of  some  thousands 
of  pear  trees  upon  quince  roots,  which  I  have  removed, 
I  have  never  seen  fibres  put  forth,  where  such  a  wound 
has  been  made.  The  rough  corrugated  ends  will  show 
the  marks  of  the  rupture  made  by  their  violent 
removal  from  the  parent  stock. 

The  injured  roots  of  stocks  should  ~be  smoothly  cut, 
and  the  jagged  portions  cleanly  pruned  away,  leaving 
a  surf  ace,  from  which  fresh  rootlets  will  readily  sprint). 

In  the  violent  removal  of  the  stock,  the  bark  is 
stripped  from  nearly  all  of  the  fibrous  roots  ;  and  if 
they  are  not  removed,  a  large  mass  of  decaying 
organism  must  be  thrown  off,  before  a  healthy  vitality 
can  commence. 

When  the  fibres  are  thick  and  matted,  they  should 
be  cut  back  to  an  inch  in  length,  or  they  will  be 
pressed  together  in  the  soil,  and  decay.  Two  rootlets 
or  fibres  never  come  in  contact  when  growing,  and 
this  condition  should  be  accurately  imitated  in 
planting. 

Pear  seedlings,  which  have  not  been  root-pruned  in 
the  seed-bed,  have  long  tap-roots,  which  should  be 
shortened  to  six  or  eight  inches.  It  lias  been  recom- 
mended to  lay  out  the  tap-root  in  a  horizontal  direc- 
tion ;  but  the  distorted  position  obstructs  the  free  flow 
of  sap  ;  and  the  root  receiving  nutriment  from  only 
one  direction,  the  tree  will  be  distorted  by  growing 
mostly  on  the  same  side. 

The  tops  of  stalks  are  frequently  allowed  to  remain ; 


PREPARATION   OF   STOCKS   FOR   PLANTING. 


71 


but  they  should  be  well  pruned,  in  order  to  induce  a 
new  and  large-leafed  growth  to  prepare  sap  that  on 
its  return  will  strengthen  and  unite  the  bud  to  the 
stock.  "When  all  of  the  top  is  allowed  to  remain,  the 
leaves  will  be  small,  and  but  little  new  wood  formed, 

Fig.  5.  Fig.  6.  Fig  7. 


Fig.  5.    A  seedling  of  one  year's  growth. 

Fig.  6.    The  same  at  two  years,  after  root  pruning. 

Fig.  7.    The  same  at  two  years,  with  pruning. 

while  close  pruning  would  induce  large  and  vigorous 
leaves  capable  of  preparing  great  quantities  of  well 
aerated  sap. 
The   contrast  between  Figs.  5  and  6  is  not  too 


72  SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF   VARIETIES. 

strongly  pictured,  to  represent  the  real  advantages 
derived  from  root  and  top  pruning.  The  pruning  of 
the  top  should  always  be  done  before  planting,  as  the 
roots  do  not  obtain  sufficient  hold  of  the  soil  to  pre- 
vent their  being  disturbed  and  pulled  out  by  the 
knife. 

INFLUENCE  OF  THE  GRAFT  UPON  LONGEVITY. 

The  increase  of  the  number  of  trees  of  a  given  variety 
has  for  some  years  been  considered  as  a  simple  exten- 
sion of  the  original  tree  of  that  variety.  Grafts  or 
buds  taken  from  any  variety  of  the  Pear,  when  inserted 
into  a  pear  stock,  will  entirely  change  its  character- 
istics, and  enforce  the  production  of  their  own  variety 
of  fruit.  Having  this  power,  it  is  not  too  much  to 
believe,  that  they  have  that  also  of  carrying  with  them 
whatever  defect  of  constitution,  or  feebleness  of  vitality, 
may  infect  the  plant,  and  that  trees  produced  from 
them  would  be  feeble  or  strong,  short  or  long-lived,  in 
proportion  to  the  possession  or  want  of  these  qualities 
in  the  original. 

That  the  defects  of  a  tree  must  limit  the  powers  of 
all  its  descendants,  is  a  well  known  physiological  fact. 
But  the  different  trees  of  a  variety  are  not  descendants 
from  an  original  of  that  variety,  but  only  parts  of  it ; 
and  starting  from  this  basis,  some  pomologists  have 
asserted,  that  as  all  the  trees  of  any  variety  are  but 
brandies  from  the  original,  and  not  the  product  of 
fecundated  seed,  they  must  be  limited  in  their  exist- 
ance  by  the  life  of  the  original. . 

In  this  theory,  however,  sufficient  allowance  is  not 
made  for  the  increase  of  vitality,  by  alliance  with 


INFLUENCE  OF  THE  GRAFT  UPON  LONGEVITY.    73 

a  vigorous  stock,  which  is  the  product  of  a  seed ;  and 
hence  possesses  the  elements  of  independent  life,  and 
the  power  of  infusing  much  of  its  own  principle  of 
longevity  into  the  engrafted  scions  or  buds. 

It  would  be  more  nearly  correct  to  say,  that  the, 
duration  of  a  variety  is  limited  more  or  less  by  that 
of  its  original,  and  that  any  inherent  disease  in  it  will 
be  continued,  in  all  its  buds  and  grafts,  although 
the  superior  vitality  of  the  stock  may  mitigate  its 
virulence,  or  protract  its  dormant  period. 

Certainly,  a  settled  conviction  is  obtaining  among 
pomologists,  that  some  of  our  finest  varieties,  that  have 
been  in  existence  for  but  the  short  time  of  fifty  to 
seventy  years,  have  nearly  reached  the  culmination — 
as  they  can  now  only  be  produced,  in  any  degree  of 
excellence,  by  the  utmost  care. 

The  White  Doyenne',  the  Chaumontel,  and  others, 
are  notable  instances  of  the  justice  of  this  conviction. 
Some  localities  still  produce  fruit  of  these  varieties  of 
great  beauty  and  excellence  ;  but  even  there,  the  invis- 
ible hand  of  disease  has  stealthily  touched  their  fruits, 
and  the  plague-spot  is  appearing  upon  their  golden 
cheeks. 

The  influence  of  the  stock  upon  grafts  is  very 
marked.  The  fruits  of  early  summer  varieties  are 
retarded  in  their  ripening  when  grafted  upon  winter 
varieties  ;  and  pears  that  should  keep  until  Easter,  will 
ripen  in  December,  if  the  tree  which  produced  them 
was  grafted  upon  a  summer  variety. 

Similarity  in  growth  and  color  of  wood,  and  in  style 
and  color  of  leaf,  between  stock  and  graft,  is  important 

4 


74:  SEEDLING — PKOPAGATION   OF  VARIETIES. 

in  attaining  perfection,  but  impracticable  on  a  large 
scale. 

METHODS  OF  GRAFTING. 

Scions  for  grafting  should  be  of  one  or  two  years' 
growth,  that  have  not  yet  produced  fruit-buds.  The 
shoots  selected  should  be  firm-wooded  and  stocky, 
with  buds  close  together,  as  a  strong,  healthy  growth 
is  characterized  by  these  marks. 

Grafts  taken -from  the  upright  shoots  near  the  top 
of  the  tree  are  apt  to  make  a  vigorous  and  upright 
growth,  but  are  more  tardy  in  bearing.  Taken  from 
the  lower  part  of  the  tree,  they  produce  a  more  widely- 
spread  form,  and  fruit  earlier. 

The  trees  from  which  the  grafts  or  buds  are  taken 
should  be  healthy,  and  have  produced  a  vigorous 
growth  during  the  previous  season,  but  such  as  have 
at  any  time  exhibited  symptoms  of  frozen  sap-blight 
should  especially  be  avoided. 

Varieties  which  succeed  but  indifferently  on  quince 
stocks,  ought  not  to  be  propagated  by  scions  from 
trees  grown  on  quince.  Indeed,  it  is  a  mooted  ques- 
tion whether  grafts  should  be  taken  at  all  from  such 
a  source  ;  but  I  see  no  reason  for  going  to  this  extreme. 

The  part  of  the  graft  used  with  the  most  success,  is 
that  at  the  junction  of  the  spring  and  midsummer 
growth,  which  is  marked  by  a  somewhat  fainter  annu- 
lar swelling  than  that  at  the  commencement  of  the 
spring  growth. 

The  theory  of  grafting  is,  that  the  newer  tissues  of 
woody  growth  unite,  when  brought  into  contact,  if 
their  sap-vessels  are  not  indurated  by  age.  The  ter- 
mini of  the  cellular  tubes  are  capable  of  exuding 


METHODS   OF   GRAFTING. 


the  albuminous  deposit  of  the  sap,  which  unites  the 
graft  to  the  new  wood  of  the  stock. 

It  is  not  unfrequent  that  thrifty  grafts  of  two  or 
three  years'  growth  are  blown  out  of  the  cleft  in  the 
stock ;  and  it  will  always  be  found  on  examination  that 
only  the  bark  and  extreme  rind  of  sap-wood  have 
united,  while  on  the  remaining  surfaces,  woody  matter 
has  been  deposited  without  adhesion. 

When  grafts  are  procured  from  a  distance,  or  it  is 
necessary  to  keep  them  some  time  before  use,  they 
should  be  cut  in  winter,  or  early  spring,  before  the 

buds  have  swollen,  and 
packed  away  in  moder- 
ately damp  sand.    If  al 
lowed  to   be   too  wet, 
they  will  decay,  and  if 
exposed  to  evaporation, 
they  will  wither.   The  graft  should 
be  in  a  less  advanced 
condition    than    the 
stock,  as  during  the 
process  of  adhesion, 
evaporation  from  the 
bark  goes  on  rapidly 
when  the  sap  in  the 
graft   is  active,   and 
death     ensues,     be- 
cause the  supply  can  not  be  maintained. 

Grafting  of  the  pear  is  usually  performed  only  on 
large-sized  stocks  or  upon  bearing  trees,  except  in 

*  Fig.  8  represents  a  branch,  exhibiting  wood-buds,  in  the  best  condition  for  a 
graft. 
t  Fig.  9  represents  a  branch  with  fruit-buds,  unfit  for  a  graft 


Tier 


76  SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF   VARIETIES. 

nursery  stocks,  where  buds  set  the  previous  season 
have  failed.  On  the  smaller  stocks,  of  one  to  four  years 
of  age,  budding  is  by  far  the  preferable  method  of 
propagation. 


Fig.  10. 


Fig.  11. 


Fig.  10.    Cleft-grafting  with  single  graft. 
Fig.  11.    Cleft-grafting  with  doable  grafts. 


When  the  trees  are  large,  only  the  younger  and 
thriftier  limbs  should  be  grafted ;  but  when  all  the 
branches  are  old,  and  covered  with  rough  bark, 
a  sufficient  number  of  them  should  be  shortened, 
in  order  to  induce  new  growths,  on  which  the 
grafting  may  be  performed,  as  shown  in  Figs.  11 
or  13. 

Thousands  of  pear*  trees,  almost  gigantic  in  their 
size,  in  all  parts  of  our  country,  now  bearing  only 
the  most  acrid  fruit,  could  each  be  made  m  a  few 


METHODS   OF    GRAFTING. 


77 


years  to  produce  almost  a  wagon-load  of  the  finest 
pears. 

When  it  is  desirable  to  graft  small  stocks,  it  should 
be  done  by  the  process  known  as  whip-grafting,  as 
illustrated  by  Fig.  12.  In  Fig.  13,  the  cleft,  which 
is  a  simple  split,  is  exhibited  open,  as  it  would  be 


Fig.  12. 


Fig.  13. 


after  the  insertion  of  the  parts.  Cleft-grafting  is 
usually  performed  on  stocks  of  more  than  half  an 
inch  in  thickness — as  shown  by  Figs.  10  and  11. 

All  of  these  operations  can  be  performed  during  a 
month  or  six  weeks  subsequent  to  the  first  swelling 
of  the  bud,  or  from  the  fifteenth  of  March  to  the  first 
of  May.  The  exposed  surfaces  should  be  well  covered 


78 


SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF   VARIETIES. 


with  grafting- wax.     Crown-grafting,  as  shown  in  Figs. 
14,  15  and  16,  is  performed  by  cutting  the  graft  only 


Fig.  14. 


Fig.  15. 


Fig.  16. 


Figures  14, 15,  and  16.    Graft  and  Crown-grafting. 

upon  one  side,  leaving  a  square  shoulder,  and  pressing 
it  down  between  the  bark  and  the  wood.  More  than 
one  graft  may  be  set  in  a  large  stock.  The  cleft  in 
the  siock,  and  the  exposed  surfaces,  where  the  latter 
has  been  cut,  should  be  well  protected  by  grafting- 
wax.  This  is  commonly  made  to  be  used  when  cold 
by  melting  three  pounds  of  resin,  to  which  three 
pounds  of  bees'-\vax  and  two  pounds  of  tallow  are 
added.  After  stirring  together,  so  as  to  incorporate 
the  ingredients,  the  whole  may  be  poured  into  a  tub 
of  cold  water,  and  worked  with  the  hands. 


BUDDING. 


B  TJ  D  D  I  N  G. 


"While  pear  trees  may  be  propagated  with  a  measure 
of  success  by  other  methods,  it  is  by  bud-        F.g  ^  # 
ding  only  that  they  can  be  raised  in  large 
numbers  with  economy  and  entire  success. 
The  constitution  of  the  Pear  especially 
fits  it  for  this  process. 

The  firm,  tough  bark  of  the  stock,  and 
the  abundant  coating  of  mucus  which 
lines  the  interior  of  both  the  bud  and 
the  stock,  enable  the  operator  to  effect 
a  clean  separation  of  the  bark  from  the 
wood,  without  injury  to  the  texture  of 
either.  The  ripe  mucus  sap  secures  an 
almost  immediate  union  of  the  parts.  In 
growing  the  Pear  upon  the  Quince  ;  the 
superiority  of  this  method  of  propagation 
is  still  more  marked.  Mr.  RIVERS  says  : 
"  of  twenty  grafts  set  in  quince-stocks,  it 
not  unfrequently  happens  that  nineteen  will  live,  but 
nearly  as  often  that  nineteen  will  die."  In  my  own. 
experience  with  trees  grafted  upon  quince-stock,  they 
have  proved  to  separate  more  easily  at  the  junction 
than  trees  propagated  by  budding.  It  is  only  the 
bark,  and  the  more  recent  formations  of  wood,  which 
unite  when  brought  into  contact;  and  this  union  is 
effected  by  layers  of  wood,  deposited  around  the 
junction,  in  the  glutinous  condition  of  lymph. 


*  Fig.  17,  represents  a  stick  of  buds,  with  leaf-stalks  for  handling. 


80 


SEEDLING — PROPAGATION   OF   VARIETIES. 


These  facts  show  that  a  bud,  com-  Fis- 18-* 

posed,  as  it  is,  only  of  bark,  and  of 
alburnum  or  half-formed  wood,  pre- 
senting a  great  surface  of  fresh  material, 
will  form  a  more  rapid  and  complete 
union  with  the  stock  than  an  ordinary 
graft.  In  this  country,  where  thorough- 
ness in  the  performance  of  work  is  often 
sacrificed  to  rapidity,  it  is  the  general 
custom  to  leave  a  portion  of  wood  with- 
in the  section  of  bark  connected  with 
the  bud,  as  seen  in  Fig.  18.  This  arises, 
in  part,  from  the  difficulty  of  separating  the  wood  from 
the  bark  without  disturbing  the  chit  beneath  the  bud, 
the  retaining  of  which  is  essential  to  success  in  bud- 
ding. This  small  kernel  of  coagulated  albumen,  as 
shown  in  Fig.  19,  is  the  stored-up  material  on  which 
the  bud  feeds  when  quickened  into  life,  and  which 
connects  its  vitality  with  the  wood  beneath.  To 
remove  this  deposit  would  insure  the  death  of  the 
bud,  or  at  least  allow  but  a  feeble  growth.  By  care- 
lessly taking  out  the  wood  from  the  bud,  the  chit 
would  adhere  to  it,  and  thus  be  displaced — as  in 
Fig.  20. 

If  the  wood  be  left  in  the  bark,  as  in  Fig.  18,  the 
edges  of  the  bark  of  the  bud  would  unite  with  the 
stock — the  vital  circulation  being  thus  established. 
But  this  piece  of  wood  is  a  foreign  substance,  and  the 
union  will  be  much  more  perfect  when  the  whole 
interior  surface  of  the  bark  of  the  bud  is  allowed  to 
come  in  contact  with  the  wood  of  the  stock.  From 


*  Pig.  18  shows  a  cut  bud  with  the  wood  remaining,  and  figure  of  bud  inserted. 


BUDDING. 


81 


my  own  experience,  I  have  learned  to  estimate  trees 
produced  by  this  method  much  more  highly  than 
those  budded  in  the  more  common  manner.  They 
form  a  stronger  union,  and  resist  the  pressure  of  heavy 
winds  without  cleaving  apart  at  the  junction  of  bud 
and  stock.  Several  methods  have  been  adopted  for 
the  rapid  and  efficient  removal  of  the  wood  from  bads, 
but  none  of  them  admit  the  possibility  of  the  inser- 
tion by  one  man  of  1200  to  2000  buds  in  a  single  day, 
as  is  claimed  by  some  persons. 

An  admirable  plan  is  shown  at  Fig.  21.     The  pro- 
cess, consists  in  thrusting  the  tough,  but  not  harsh 

Fig.  19.  Fig.  20. 


Fig.  21. 


Fig.  19.  A  bud  with  the  eye  preserved. 
Fig.  20.  A  bud  with  the  eye  removed. 
Fig.  21.  Quill  as  used  in  separating  wood  from  the  bud. 

edge,  of  a  quill,  under  the  upturned  edge  of  wood,  and 
pressing  it  firmly  and  gently  forward;  the  chit  is 
cut  smoothly  from  the  wood,  and  remains  in  its 
proper  place,  attached  to  the  bud. 

The  thickened  mucous  sap  which  lines  the  bark, 
and  covers  the  wood,  when  closely  examined,  will 

4* 


82 


SEEDLING PROPAGATION   OF  VARIETIES. 


exhibit  a  cellular  structure  of  albuminous  materials 
attached  to  the  chit,  ready  to  extend  themselves  into 
the  shoot,  which  the  dormant  bud  will  ultimately  form. 

Fig.  22. 


Fig.  22.    Stick  with  bud  at  A,  too  high-shouldered  for  setting. 

The  operation  of  fitting  the  bud  to  the  stock,  after 
each  is  cut,  should  be  performed  almost  instant- 
aneously. This  is  equally  necessary  to  prevent  the 
drying,  and  the  chemical  change  of  the  exposed  sap, 
which  almost  immediately  oxidizes,  and  turns  brown — 
like  the  flesh  and  juice  of  an  apple,  when  cut  and  ex- 
posed to  the  air. 

Fig.  23. 


Fig.  23.    Stick  of  buds,  selected  properly. 

For  budding,  select  young,  vigorous  shoots,  of  the 
present  year's  growth,  with  well-ripened  buds,  as 
shown  at  Fig.  23.  Cut  off  the  leaves,  allowing  the 
foot-stalks  to  remain  attached  to  the  bud,  serving  as 
a  handle  when  the  bud  is  fitted  into  its  place  in  the 
stock.  "Reject  the  upper  and  unripe  buds,  selecting 
only  the  plump,  well-ripened  ones.  Hold  the  larger 
end  towards  your  body,  inserting  the  knife-blade  as 
far  above  the  bud  as  you  intend  to  leave  the  bark 
below  it,  and  separate  the  bud,  with  a  rather  deep 


BUDDING. 


83 


cut  into  the  wood,  as  shown  at  Fig.  24.  Hold  the 
removed  bud  by  the  foot-stalk,  and  with  the  quill 
take  away  the  woody  portion.  If  you  choose  to  leave 


Fig,  24. 


Fig.  25. 


Fig.  24    The  proper  cut  to  be  made  in  separating  the  bud. 
Fig.  25.    Quill  prepared  for  separating  bud  from  the  wood. 

the  wood,  pare  it  down  as  thin  as  possible.  If  you 
are  not  expert  in  the  manipulation,  shield  the  bud 
from  the  air  by  placing  it  in  the  mouth,  or  in  a  vessel 
of  water.  Make  the  incision  quickly  in  the  bark  of 


84  SEEDLING PROPAGATION    OF    VARIETIES. 

the  stock,  as  in  Fig.  26 ;  raise  it  from  the  wood,  and 
push  in  the  bud,  by  the  leaf-stalk.  You  may  now 
cut  off  the  bark  above  the  bud,  so  that  it  will  exactly 
fit  the  cross  incision,  and  tie  the  whole  gently,  but 
firmly,  with  strips  of  bass  matting,  as  at  Fig.  27. 
The  ties  should  be  loosened  in  two  or  three  weeks 
after  the  budding  is  finished,  and  entirely  removed 
before  winter  sets  in. 

Fig.  2&  Fig.  27. 


Fig.  26.    Bud  with  wood  removed,  and  stock  cut  for  insertion. 
Fig.  27.    Bud  inserted  and  tied. 

Budding  is  occasionally  performed  in  spring,  but 
not  to  any  extent  in  commercial  nurseries ;  nor  is  it 
universally  successful,  although  a  convenient  process, 
when  buds  which  were  inserted  the  previous  summer 
have  failed. 

The  period  for  budding  the  Pear  extends  from  the 
middle  of  July  to  the  middle  of  September— the  pre- 


BUDDING. 


else  time  depending  on  various  local  circumstances 
which  affect  the  growth  of  the  tree.  The  season  may 
be  a  late  or  early  one,  or  a  poor  soil  may  have  retarded, 
or  a  rich  one  stimulated  the  growth,  so  as  materially 
to  affect  the  period  for  budding.  Dry  summers  and 
late  spring  planting  of  stocks  will  also  retard  the 
operation.  The  observation  of  the  following  points 
will  assist  in  selecting  the  proper  time  for  budding. 
The  first  or  spring  growth  of  leaves  should  be  fully 
ripened,  and  the  midsummer  growth  nearly  com- 
pleted. At  this  time,  an  abundance  of  ripened  or 
richly  albuminous  sap  is  thrown  between  the  bark  and 
wood,  and  when  both  the  stock  and  the  bud  are  in 
this  condition,  union  is  readily  effected  by  the  harden- 
ing of  this  sap  into  tissue. 

The  stock  should  be  cut  three  or 
four  inches  above  the  bud,  as  shown 
at  Fig.  28,  soon  after  the  leaves  start, 
although  with  very  strong  and  well 
rooted  plants,  care  must  be  observed 
not  to  deprive  the  plant  of  all  its  top, 
until  the  bud  has  put  forth  a  shoot 
some  inches  in  length.  As  soon  as 
the  latter  has  grown  to  nearly  a  foot 
in  height,  it  should,  if  inclining  from 
the  perpendicular,  be  staked  and  tied. 
Occasionally,  the  stump  of  the  stock 
will  afford  sufficient  stay  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  shoot  without  the  use  of 
a  stake. 


Fig.  28.* 


*  Fig.  28  represents  the  treatment  of  the  budded  plant  during  the  first  summer. 


PAKT  in.— SELECTING,  PLANTING,  AND 
CULTIVATION. 

SELECTING   PEAR   TREES   FROM   THE   NURSERY. 

EVERY  fruit  grower  should  either  select  his  trees  for 
himself,  or  obtain  .the  services  of  a  competent  person. 
There  are  so  many  circumstances  governing  the  suc- 
cess of  nursery  trees,  so  great  a  difference  in  their 
growth,  and  their  roots,  as  well  as  in  the  manner  in 
which  they  are  taken  from  the  ground,  that  the  most 
careful  attention  is  necessary  to  avoid  the  numerous 
chances  of  failure.  The  soil  on  which  the  nursery 
trees  have  grown  is  a  subject  of  some  consequence. 
It  should  be  one  well  suited  to  the  permanent  growth 
and  fruiting  of  the  trees.  Some  nurserymen,  in  order 
to  meet  the  quickened  demand  for  large  and  hand- 
some pear  trees,  stimulate  their  growth  by  profuse 
applications  of  manure.  This  practice  will  produce  a 
succulent  unripened  growth,  and  the  trees,  when 
planted  in  an  inferior  soil,  are  either  killed  by  winter- 
blight,  or  languish  for  several  years. 

An  instance  is  narrated  of  a  nursery  which  was 
advertised  as  containing  immense  numbers  of  pear 
trees,  which  was  said  to  have  been  manured  at  the 
rate  of  two  hundred  double  wagon  loads  per  acre. 


SELECTING   PEAR   TEEES   FROM   NURSERY.  87 

One  large  nursery  of  pear  trees,  which  came  under  my 
observation,  was  located  upon  the  bed  of  a  drained 
rnill-pond,  the  water  still  standing  at  two  or  three  feet 
below  the  surface  in  the  ditches,  which  were  dug  at 
such  distances  apart,  that  the  water  rose  to  the  sur- 
face between  them.  On  this  alluvial  soil,  an  enor- 
mous growth  was  obtained,  but  at  the  expense  of  the 
healthfulness  of  the  trees.  Of  some  fifteen  hundred 
pear  trees  obtained  by  the  author  from  this  ground, 
nearly  half  perished  by  blight  during  the  first  year. 
Other  nurseries  may  be  seen  located  on  imperfectly 
drained  alluvial  soils.  Pear  trees  grown  on  such 
grounds  are  always  deficient  in  fibrous  roots,  and  con- 
sequently less  able  to  bear  transplanting. 

Disappointment,  also,  often  attends  the  selection  of 
trees  transplanted  from  poor  and  neglected  soils, 
particularly  those  that  are  light  and  sandy.  The 
plants  acquire  a  stinted  habit  of  growth,  from  which 
they  seldom  or  never  thoroughly  recover. 

The  purchaser  should  observe  if  lice  or  other  para- 
sitic insects  have  made  a  lodgment  upon  the  trees, 
and  guard  against  domesticating  a  pest  which  it  will 
require  years  to  exterminate.  Trees  infested  by  them 
in  the  nursery,  are  generally  stunted,  and  their  growth, 
for  a  longer  or  shorter  time,  retarded. 

In  selecting  plants  for  pyramid  trees,  choose  those 
that  have  branches  or  branch-spurs  within  a  foot  of 
the  ground,  and  fairly  distributed  along  the  stem.  It 
will  be  impossible  to  find  trees  in  any  considerable 
number  with  the  branches  perfectly  arranged,  still 
those  only  should  be  selected  for  this  purpose  which 
approach  the  standard  as  nearly  as  possible. 


88  SELECTING,    PLANTING,    AND   CULTIVATION. 

The  stem  or  trunk  of  a  healthy  nursery  tree  will 
usually  be  twice  the  diameter  near  the  ground  that 
it  will  be  three  feet  above,  and  decrease  with  a  regular 
taper  towards  the  top.  Stems  that  are  of  the  same 
size  at  the  collar,  and  three,  or  as  sometimes  happens, 
even  five  feet  above  it,  have  been  forced  up  in  their 
growth  by  crowding  in  the  rows,  or  by  injudicious 
pruning.  The  height  of  trees  should  be  a  secondary 
object  compared  to  other  qualities.  The  bark  should 
be  clean,  of  a  lustrous  appearance,  and  free  from 
ungainly  scars  from  wounds  made  by  the  pruning 
knife. 

Nurserymen  are  often  forced,  by  the  popular  prefer- 
ence for  tall  trees,  to  prune  them  contrary  to  their 
judgment,  so  as  to  induce  growth  in  that  form :  the 
lower  part  of  the  tree,  deprived  of  its  portion  of  the 
foliage,  remains  undeveloped,  while  the  top  is  increas- 
ing at  its  expense. 

The  purchaser  should  ascertain,  if  possible,  how  old 
the  trees  are,  and  how  long  they  have  stood  in  the 
nursery  rows  without  being  lifted,  or  root-pruned; 
for  a  tree  of  any  kind,  and  especially  a  pear  tree, 
will  not  be  well  provided  with  fibrous  roots  within 
the  circle  dug  in  taking  it  up,  after  standing  for  three 
or  four  years,  without  root-pruning  or  transplanting ; 
nor  will  a  pear  tree  form  these  fibrous  roots,  on  which 
depend  its  vitality  and  fruitfulness,  unless  the  stock, 
on  which  it  was  budded,  has  been  properly  treated 
for  their  formation.  It  is  the  practice  in  some  of  the 
French  nurseries  to  cut  off  the  tap-root  of  pear  seed- 
lings when  they  are  three  or  four  inches  high,  to  cause 
the  growth  of  fibrous  roots — just  as  we  pinch  off  the 


CAUSES  OF  THE  FAILURE  OF  NUKSERF  TREES.  89 

terminal  bud  of  the  yearling  shoot,  to  produce  lateral 
brandies.  When  taken  from  the  seed-bed,  the  plants, 
instead  of  the  single  tap-root,  ten  or  twelve  inches 
long,  will  have  three  or  four  roots  from  four  to  eight 
inches  in  length.  These  roots  are  shortened,  and  the 
plants  set  in  the  nursery  rows,  when  a  mass  of  fibrous 
roots  will  be  produced.  If  the  trees  remain  in  the 
nursery  for  more  than  two  years,  the  roots  are  again 
shortened. 

A  healthy  pear  tree,  three  or  four  years  old,  twice 
transplanted,  is  worth  fifty  per  cent  more  than  one 
of  the  same  age,  though  of  much  greater  size,  remain- 
ing where  it  was  budded.  When  the  trees  are  lifted 
in  the  nursery,  observe  whether  the  roots  are  fibrous, 
and  numerous ;  and  if  they  are  not,  but  consist  of  long, 
naked  roots,  or  of  two  or  three  straight  forks,  their 
chances  of  successful  transplanting  are  very  small. 

CAUSES    OF   THE   FAILURE   OF   NURSERY   TREES. 

The  various  causes  of  the  failure  of  trees  obtained 
from  nurseries  would  require  almost  a  lifetime  to 
investigate,  and  a  volume  for  their  enumeration.  A 
few  that  have  fallen  under  our  observation  will  be 
simply  narrated,  without  discussion. 

1.  The  too  great  crowding  of  the  trees  in  the  nurs- 
ery rows,  by  which  a  fair  supply  of  roots  cannot  be 
obtained. 

2.  The  trees  are  dug  with  too  little  care,  and  sent 
away  with,  mangled  and  shortened  roots.^ 

3.  Purchasers  are  not  always  sufficiently  liberal  to 
be  willing  to  pay  for  the  best  trees,  or  for  matting  and 
packing  them. 


90  SELECTING,    PLANTING,   AND   CULTIVATION. 

4:.  The  trees  may  be  too  old,  or  have  stood  too  long 
without  transplanting. 

5.  Bad  pruning. 

6.  The    practice    of   grafting    on   old    stocks,   to 
which  the  new  wood  has  not  the  power  of  assimi- 
lating. 

Y.  The  practice  of  gathering  seeds  for  stocks  from 
any  and  every  source,  from  diseased  fruit,  and  from 
the  fruit  of  diseased  trees ;  while  the  seed  of  small  and 
wild  pears  only  are  fit  for  the  purpose. 

8.  The  custom  of  using  suckers  from  old  pear-tree 
roots,   which   seldom    attain  a  fair  size   or  thrifty 
growth. 

9.  The  employment  of  the  common  and  the  Por- 
tugal Quinces  for  stock,  instead  of  the  large  and  rapidly 
growing  Angers  variety. 

PEOPEB   AGE   FOE   PLANTING. 

This  will  depend  much  on  the  growth  and  treat- 
ment in  the  nursery.  I  am  decidedly  of  the  opinion, 
that  when  pear  trees  are  to  be  left  to  struggle  with 
the  ordinary  difficulties  in  an  orchard,  even  when 
they  are  to  have  skillful  attention  and  watchful  care, 
they  should  not  be  planted  less  than  four  years  old.  This 
requirement,  however,  is  not  without  exceptions.  For 
instance:  when  they  are  to  be  planted  not  farther 
apart  than  twelve  or  fifteen  feet,  and  have  some  of  the 
advantages  of  good  nursery  treatment — in  this  casr, 
even  yearlings  may  be  planted  at  once  in  the  fruit 
ground ;  also,  when  they  are  to  be  planted  at  greater 
distances,  and  the  grower  will  not  begrudge  the 
bestowment  of  so  large  a  piece  of  ground  to  the 


PROPER  AGE  FOR  PLANTrffG.  91 

cultivation  of  such  small  trees.  The  disadvantages 
of  planting  small  trees  are,  that  they  are  liable  to  be 
injured  by  the  plow,  and  browsed  by  cattle,  accident- 
ally or  intentionally  admitted,  or  by  the  animals  used 
in  tillage.  Perhaps  the  most  formidable  objection  is, 
that  the  owner  will  regret  what  he  deems  the  waste 
of  a  valuable  piece  of  ground  for  so  many  years ;  and 
against  his  own  judgment  sow  or  plant  an  injurious 
crop  among  his  trees. 

There  is,  however,  a  much  better  method  of  treat- 
ing young  trees,  than  to  subject  them  to  the  chance 
of  all  these  evils.  If  they  have  not  been  transplanted 
or  root-pruned,  select  those  of  two  or  three  years7 
growth,  and  prepare  a  piece  of  ground  for  the  home 
nursery.  For  this  a  rich,  deep,  dry  soil  should  be 
spaded  and  thoroughly  pulverized,  to  the  depth  of 
two  feet.  In  it  plant  the  trees  in  rows  four  feet  dis- 
tant, and  three  feet  apart  in  the  rows.  Two  hundred 
trees  would  here  occupy  a  space  fifty  feet  square. 
The  roots  having  been  carefully  examined,  and,  as 
before  mentioned,  the  laterals  pruned  to  six  or  eight 
inches,  are  spread  out  horizontally,  and  gently  covered 
with  earth.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  labor  of  pinching, 
pruning,  and  cultivating,  will  be  much  less  on  so  small 
a  spot,  than  when  the  cultivator  is  obliged  to  travel 
over  the  three  or  four  acres,  upon  which  they  are  ulti- 
mately to  be  planted. 

If  at  the  end  of  two  years  it  is  still  desirable  to 
allow  them  to  remain,  a  sharp  spade  should  be  thrust 
down  around  them,  at  a  distance  of  fifteen  or  eighteen 
inches,  in  order  to  cut  the  long  straggling  roots,  and 
thus  induce  the  formation  of  roots  nearer  home.  This 


92  SELECTING,    PLANTING,   AND   CULTIVATION. 

will  fit  them  for  transplanting  at  an  advanced  stage 
of  growth.  In  this  case,  if  at  the  end  of  two  or  three 
years  they  are  removed  at  the  proper  season,  and  with 
care,  they  will  suffer  scarcely  any  check.  By  pursu- 
ing this  plan  they  receive  better  care,  grow  faster, 
and  are  not  liable  to  damage ;  and  as  only  good  trees 
will  in  this  case  be  set  in  the  fruit  grounds,  none  of 
those  unseemly  breaks  in  the  rows,  caused  by  the 
death  or  injury  of  a  tree,  need  occur. 

"Where,  however,  older  trees,  at  least  once  trans 
planted,  can  not  be  obtained,  and  it  is  desirable  to 
set  out  the  orchard  at  once,  stout  two-year-old  trees 
are  decidedly  preferable.  Such  trees  have  not  stood 
sufficiently  long  to  send  their  roots  beyond  a  limit, 
whence  they  can  be  removed ;  and  with  careful  digging, 
removal,  and  planting,  the  purchaser  need  not  fear 
a  loss  of  more  than  two  per  cent.  Quince-rooted 
trees  can  be  removed  at  any  age.  When  over  ten 
years  old,  and  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  high,  they  can  be 
transplanted  with  as  much  safety  as  pear  trees,  grown 
on  pear  roots,  at  two  years  of  age.  Captain  Richard- 
son, of  Brooklyn,  who  sailed  the  "  Duchess  d'Orleans," 
a  Havre  packet,  for  many  years,  was  induced  by  a 
French  gentleman  at  that  port  to  bring  home  in  his 
vessel  some  large  pear  trees,  grown  on  quince  roots. 

These  trees  were  nearly  twenty  feet  high,  with  a 
main  stem  six  or  eight  inches  thick  at  the  base, 
branched  close  to  the  ground,  and  each  as  perfectly 
conical  as  a  Norway  Spruce.  They  had  been  in  bear- 
ing in  France  for  nearly  twenty  years ;  and  are  now, 
after  thirteen  years  of  growth  in  a  new  soil,  beautiful 
objects  in  shape  and  foliage ;  and  what  is  more,  pro- 


PROPER   AGE   FOR  PLANTING.  93 

duce  every  year  large  crops  of  splendid  fruit.  Of  the 
six  thus  brought  three  thousand  miles,  five  are  still 
living. 

Persons  planting  large  pear  trees  will,  without 
doubt,  obtain  many  advantages  which  they  could  not 
expect  from  smaller  ones ;  yet  these  are  entirely  con- 
ditional upon  the  treatment  the  trees  have  previously 
received. 

To  repeat,  pear  trees  upon  quince  roots,  of  ten  or 
twelve  years  of  age,  may  be  removed  with  almost 
perfect  certainty  of  success.  But  to  insure  safety  with 
trees  upon  pear  stocks,  whose  branches  have  not  been 
shortened-in,  they  should  be  either  pyramids  or  half 
standards,  so  that  fibrous  roots  will  have  formed  near 
the  stem ;  or  they  must  have  been  root-pruned,  or 
transplanted  in  the  nursery.  But  in  the  case  of  stand- 
ards, whose  growth  has  been  unchecked,  roots  as  long 
and  numerous  as  the  branches  will  have  formed — which, 
of  course  cannot  be  retained  in  transplanting.  Such 
trees  can  only  be  safely  transplanted  when  root- 
pruned  the  previous  year,  by  digging  a  trench  around 
each,  and  cutting  off  all  the  roots  which  extend  into 
the  trench.  These  trenches  should  be  filled  with  good 
soil,  to  induce  the  formation  of  fibrous  roots. 

After  much  experience  in  planting  large  trees,  I 
am  convinced  that  the  pear  is  the  only  species  of  fruit- 
tree  capable  of  being  readily  transplanted  at  a  large 
size ;  and  that  when  the  foregoing  directions  are  com- 
plied with,  the  pear  culturist  may  obtain  an  advance 
in  the  fruiting  of  his  orchard  of  five  or  six  years. 

Instances  of  success  in  the  planting  and  fruiting  of 
large  trees-  are  numerous.  In  the  spring  of  1856, 


94:  SELECTING,    PLANTING,    AND   CULTIVATION. 

Mr.  L.  PECK,  of  New  Haven,  removed  to  his  garden  a 
Flemish  Beauty,  twelve  years  old,  which,  in  the  fall  of 
1857,  bore  a  bushel  of  pears  that  averaged  larger  than 
Duchesse  d'Angouleme,  grown  on  the  same  grounds. 
A  large  number  of  trees  of  equal  size,  planted  at 
the  same  time,  proved  nearly  as  successful.  Mr.  Wm. 
HOWE,  of  North  Salem,  Westchester  Co.,  planted  a 
few  years  since,  some  large  trees  from  the  pear  ground 
of  Mr.  Samuel  Parsons,  mentioned  by  Mr.  Barry  in 
his  "  Fruit  Garden,"  and  in  two  years  obtained  from  it 
then  the  finest  Yicar  and  Easter  Beurre  Pears  exhib- 
ited at  the  Fair  of  the  American  Institute  for  that  year. 

SEASON   FOE   REMOVING   AND   PLANTING   TREES. 

Our  country  possesses  such  a  varied  soil  and  climate 
that  no  general  rule  can  be  given  for  the  time  of 
planting;  indeed,  the  exact  period  must  differ  with 
almost  every  season.  The  removal  of  trees  should 
take  place  while  the  vital  powers  are  dormant,  or 
nearly  so.  This  is  indicated  by  the  ripening,  and  ulti- 
mately by  the  fall  of  the  leaf,  which  occurs,  in  the 
latitude  of  New  York  City,  from  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember until  the  first  of  November.  From  the  period 
at  which  the  leaves  ripen  until  they  form  again  in 
April  or  May,  trees  may  be  removed  with  safety 
whenever  the  state  of  the  weather  will  permit,  and 
the  soil  is  sufficiently  free  from  frost  for  their  recep- 
tion. Large  numbers  of  trees  are  removed  from  nur- 
series, and  planted  with  success,  immediately  after  the 
leaves  have  been  killed  by  early  frost — such  as  remain 
on  the  tree  having  been  stripped  off. 

The  fibrous-rooted  quince  and  root-pruned  pear 


SEASON   FOE   REMOVING    AND   PLANTING.  95 

trees  are  liable  to  be  thrown  out  by  the  freezings  and 
thawings  of  winter,  if  they  are  not  planted  sufficiently 
early  to  allow  the  settling  of  the  soil  about  the  roots 
before  the  ground  freezes.  When  planted  in  autumn 
the  trees  should  receive  a  heap  of  earth  about  their 
trunk  and  over  the  roots.  If  the  trees  to  be  planted 
can  be  obtained  at  a  period  in  the  fall  when  one  may 
reasonably  expect  fine  weather  and  warm  rains  to 
assist  in  settling  the  earth,  before  it  is  frozen,  the 
hurry  and  uncertainty  of  a  late  spring  should  be 
avoided  by  autumn  planting.  The  season  best  adapted 
to  the  transplanting  of  the  Pear  is,  that  short  period 
before  the  commencement  of  severe  frosts  when  the 
leaves  and  wood  are  perfectly  ripened,  and  the  for- 
mer easily  parts  from  the  tree.  At  this  period,  the 
great  flow  of  sap  to  the  leaves  has  ceased,  and  every 
cut  and  bruised  rootlet  will  receive  a  covering  of 
healing  tissue,  through  which,  within  a  few  days,  root- 
lets will  push  out. 

During  the  fall  and  spring,  when  the  ground  is  not 
frozen,  these  radicles  are  increasing,  and  are  ready  to 
commence  their  office  when  the  first  leaves  begin  to 
put  forth.  Not  only  do  the  wounded  roots  send  forth 
fibres,  but  twigs  of  the  pear-wood  which  have  been 
properly  layered  in  late  summer  will  be  well  provided 
writh  spongioles.  Trees  removed  in  early  autumn, 
with  care,  will  scarcely  show  any  check,  and  will  often 
fruit  as  well  the  first  season  after  planting  as  if  they 
had  not  been  disturbed. 

Trees  received  from  France,  which  have  been  dug 
when  wood  and  leaf  were  fully  ripened,  will,  on  their 
arrival  here,  exhibit  on  their  pruned  roots,  and  even 


96  SELECTING,   PLANTING,    AND   CULTIVATION. 

on  their  broken  branches,  a  thick  coating  of  newly- 
formed  tissue,  and  often  many  rootlets,  an  inch  or  more 
in  length.  The  most  skillful  English  nurserymen  and 
fruit  cultivators  select  early  autumn  for  the  removal 
of  their  trees. 

If  trees  arrive  in  early  spring,  one  should  not  hasten 
the  planting  so  much  as  to  be  obliged  to  perform 
the  work  indifferently,  by  planting  in  shallow  holes 
or  poorly  prepared  soil.  Lay  the  trees  in  by  the  heels, 
covering  the  roots  deeply  with  loose,  tine  earth,  and 
then  plant  them  at  leisure,  removing  them  from  the 
trench  no  faster  than  they  are  required.  By  occasion- 
ally moving  the  trees  heeled-in,  the  period  of  planting 
may  be  delayed  until  the  middle  of  May.  It  must 
not  be  forgotten,  that  the  leaves  should  be  fully  ripe, 
and  all  growth  completed,  else  the  evaporation  of  sap 
through  the  still  active  leaves  would  go  on  too  rapidly 
for  the  supply  afforded  by  the  maimed  roots. 

ROOTS   OF   THE   PEAR. 

As  the  Pear  tree  advances  in  age,  the  difficulty  of 
successful  removal  increases.  The  reason  is  not  always 
understood  by  those  who  seem  to  consider  the  roots 
as  chiefly  valuable  for  sustaining  the  tree  in  an  upright 
position,  and  obtain  with  the  tree  the  least  number 
that  will  perform  this  office.  Almost  all  persons  be- 
lieve that  if,  by  dint  of  extra  labor,  they  have  secured 
a  few  long,  naked  canes  of  roots,  that  they  have  per- 
formed their  work  admirably;  although  by  careless 
digging,  or  pulling  the  roots  through  the  soil,  they 
may  have  destroyed  all  the  hair-like  fibres  which 
alone  give  value  to  the  main  roots.  The  nourishment 


PRUNING  BEFORE  PLANTING.  97 

of  trees  is  received  from  the  soil,  through  the  agency 
of  the  hair-like  rootlets  which  spread  through  it 
from  the  termini  of  the  larger  root.  No  matter  how 
many  large  roots  may  be  attached  to  the  lifted  tree, 
its  removal  will  only  be  well  performed  when  you 
have  secured  a  large  quantity  of  fibrous  roots. 

As  the  tree  increases  in  size,  the  roots  near  the  body 
exhaust  the  soil  of  nutriment,  and  the  absorbents,  or 
fibrous  spongioles,  become  hardened  by  age,  and 
incapable  of  action.  New  fibres  push  out  from  the 
termini  of  the  rootlets  into  the  newer  and  richer  soil, 
and  the  office  of  those  in  the  exhausted  ground  is  at 
an  end.  Nature  supports  no  useless  members  in  her 
economy,  and  those  radicles  which  have  performed 
their  office,  and  become  incapable  of  affording  further 
aid,  are  cast  off. 

Thus,  year  after  year,  as  the  roots  extend  and  throw 
off  their  fibres,  the  new  spongioles  supplied  are  found 
farther  and  farther  from  the  trunk,  and  more  and  more 
labor  must  be  expended  in  the  digging,  to  obtain  a 
sufficient  number  of  them  to  sustain  the  tree  in  its 
new  position. 

No  one  need  expect  a  tree  to  flourish,  or  indeed  do 
more  than  barely  survive  transplanting,  who  is  care- 
less about  the  kind  of  roots  with  which  his  trees  are 
supplied. 

PRUNING   AND   ROOT-PRUNING  BEFORE   PLANTING. 

Although  the  Pear  tree  will  endure  more  severe 
pruning,  and  yield  more  readily  to  modifications  of 
its  form,  than  other  fruit-trees,  yet  this  facility  of  man- 
agement may  cause  us  to  lose  sight  of  the  fact,  that  the 

5 


98 


SELECTING,   PLANTING,    AND   CULTIVATION. 


restraint  of  its  irregular  growth  can  be  better  per- 
formed  in  its  succulent  condition  by  summer  pinch- 
ing. But  as  the  form  of  nursery  trees  is  usually  very 
imperfect,  and  will  require  severe  pruning  to  reduce 
it  to  regularity,  we  should  perform  this  labor  in 


Fig.  29. 


Fig.  80. 


Fig.  81. 


such  a  manner  as  to  need  no  repetition,  and  so  that 
only  the  gentler  restraints  of  summer  pinching,  and 
the  pruning  of  young  shoots,  will  be  needed,  to 
induce  a  handsome  shape.  The  great  difference 
between  the  effects  of  two  methods  of  pruning  may 
be  seen  by  reference  to  the  figures.  Fig.  30  repre- 
sents a  maiden  plant  or  tree  of  one  year's  growth 
from  the  bud.  with  a  mark  at  A,  to  indicate  the  place 
at  which  it  is  frequently  shortened  in  the  fall  pnming. 


PETJNING   BEFORE  PLANTING.  99 

It  should  have  been  shortened  in  at  about  half 
its  height.  The  cross  lines  on  Fig.  31  indicate  places 
on  the  limbs  where  the  usual  improper  pruning 
would  be  performed.  Both  of  these  Figures  ex- 
hibit incorrect  modes  of  shortening,  which  will  in- 
duce a  growth  that  becomes  very  difficult  to  shape 
into  regularity.  To  form  a  pyramid  of  the  tree 
shown  at  Fig.  30,  its  branches  should  be  shortened 
to  two  or  three  buds,  and  the  young  shoots  formed  from 
these,  pinched  during  the  latter  part  of  June,  to  in- 
duce the  lower  dormant  buds  to  push  out.  But  the 
method  most  certain  of  producing  the  basis  for  a  well- 
shaped  pyramid  is  the  summer  pinching  of  the  maiden 
plant,  as  shown  at  Fig.  31,  which  is  the  form  that  the 
tree  at  Fig.  29  would  have  assumed  in  autumn,  if 
pinched  during  the  preceding  July.  This  last-men- 
tioned tree  will  now  need  to  be  shortened-in  much 
below  the  mark  at  A,  to  induce  lateral  shoots  in  the 
proper  place  to  form  a  well-balanced  pyramid.  ~No 
general  rule  for  pruning  trees  before  planting  would 
accurately  meet  the  necessities  of  each  case,  but  it  will 
be  safe  to  recommend,  that  when  branches  or  branch 
spurs  have  not  formed  low  down  upon  the  stem,  or 
when  the  tree  is  not  stocky  and  vigorous,  or  when 
the  roots  are  much  shortened  in  digging,  the  tree 
should  be  cut  back  one-half  of  its  height.  ~No  one 
who  prizes  ultimate  excellence  more  than  the  present 
appearance  of  his  trees,  but  will  prune  mercilessly  all 
the  parts  that  conflict  with  their  perfection  of  shape. 
In  most  instances,  trees  are  retarded  for  two  or  three 
years  by  permitting  too  large  a  quantity  of  foliage 
to  remain.  Too  many  branches  are  demanding  a  mere 


100          SELECTING,   PLANTING,   AND  CULTIVATION. 

subsistence,  when  a  fewer  number  would  find  nutri- 
ment enough  to  insure  a  vigorous  growth. 

When  the  pyramidal  form  is  not  desired,  it  is  still 
necessary  to  preserve  the  balance  between  the  roots 
and  the  top  of  the  tree. 

Most  horticulturists  have  stopped  here  in  their  in- 
structions relating  to  planting ;  but  root-pruning  will 
be  found  fully  as  important  in  practice  as  the  proper 
shaping  of  the  top.  Wounded  roots  must  not  only  be 
removed,  and  the  ends  of  all  the  cut  or  broken  ones 
smoothly  pared,  but,  in  many  cases,  all  the  roots  may 
be  shortened  with  profit  in  the.  growth  and  fruiting 
of  the  tree.  When  large  mass  s  of  fibrous  roots  are 
formed,  as  on  the  quince  and  root-pruned  pear  stocks, 
they  become  so  matted  together  as  not  easily  to  be 
separated  from  each  other  by  earth  in  planting.  When 
roots  are  placed  in  contact  in  the  soil,  they  will  usu- 
ally become  diseased,  and  lose  their  power  of  affording 
sustenance  to  the  tree. 

Before  the  tree  is  planted,  the  fibres  and  succulent 
spongioles  should  be  shortened  to  an  inch  in  length, 
and  thinned  sufficiently  to  admit  of  being  readily  sep- 
arated by  the  earth  distributed  among  them. 

It  is  now  the  received  practice  among  horticultur- 
ists to  plant  the  pear  or  quince  root  so  deep  as  to 
cover  the  place  where  the  pear-bud  was  inserted.  By 
this  method,  as  the  quince  stock  has  been  budded  at 
least  four  inches  above  the  ground,  we  add  six  inches 
to  the  depth  of  the  root,  plunging  into  a  colder  soil 
those  rootlets  which  have  been  formed  near  the  sur- 
face, and  are  not  adapted  to  that  depth,  and  tbua 


PRUNING  BEFOKE  PLANTING.          101 

violating  some  of  the  delicate  conditions  of  vegetable 
life. 

In  replanting  trees  on  quince  stocks  so  deep  as  to 
cover  a  portion  of  the  pear,  it  is  best  to  prune  off  two 
or  three  inches  of  the  main  root.  The  recent  removal 
of  some  hundred  trees,  which  had  been  planted  out 
three  or  four  years,  gave  me  an  opportunity  of  exam- 
ining the  effect  of  deep  planting.  In  almost  every 
instance  where  the  quince-roots  had  been  buried  six 
or  eight  inches  deeper  than  the  natural  position,  I 
found  the  lower  layer  of  roots  inert,  and  in  many  cases 
diseased,  and  it  has  now  become  my  practice  to  remove 
three  or  four  inches  of  the  lower  portion  of  the  main 
root  with  a  fine  saw.  For  trees  upon  the  quince  stock, 
no  fears  need  be  entertained  on  account  of  the  reduc- 
tion of  the  roots,  as  the  portion  of  the  stock  buried 
will  soon  be  covered  with  fibres  and  rootlets. 

After  having  been  once  root-pruned  and  planted 
out,  trees  may  be  removed  within  three  years  from 
their  root-pruning,  without  greatly  reducing  their  tops. 
Ordinary  nursery  trees  must  be  severely  pruned  in 
their  branches,  in  order  to  reduce  the  evaporating 
surface  of  wood  and  leaves  to  a  limit  that  will 
require  no  more  sap  than  the  roots  are  able  to  furnish. 
Suppose  a  tree  capable  of  evaporating  two  gallons  of 
sap  each  day,  through  its  leaves,  is  provided  with 
roots  sufficient  to  furnish  this  amount.  Now,  if  the 
tree  be  removed,  and  nearly  half  the  roots  are  muti- 
lated and  lost,  while  all  the  branches  and  leaves  are 
left  entire,  it  is  plainly  to  be  seen  that  the  latter  will 
continue  to  require  a  full  supply  of  sap,  while  the 
diminished  roots  will  be  incapable  of  supplying  suffi- 


102          SELECTING,    PLANTING,    AND   CULTIVATION. 

cient  moisture  to  prevent  the  tree  from  drying.  It 
must  be  distinctly  kept  in  mind  that  the  formation  of 
roots  is  in  almost  exact  ratio  to  the  amount  of  healthy 
branches  and  foliage,  and  that  every  branch  has  its 
counterpart  of  root  below  the  surface  of  the  soil. 

REPLANTING   THE    PEAR   TO   FORM   FIBROUS   ROOTS. 

Some  of  the  English,  and  other  foreign  nurserymen 
have  a  scale  of  prices  for  trees  of  the  same  variety, 
graduated  by  the  number  of  tran&plantings. 

The  tree  is  lifted  at  the  end  of  the  second  year,  the 
roots  smoothly  trimmed,  and  replanted  immediately 
in  an  adjoining  trench.  As  each  successive  row  is 
removed,  the  ground  'which  was  occupied  by  it  is 
opened  for  the  reception  of  the  next.  The  benefits 
derived  from  this  process  consist  in  the  formation 
of  large  numbers  of  fibrous  roots,  which  push  out 
at  the  extremities  of  the  pruned  roots,  and  the  con- 
sequent safety  of  removal.  Two  or  three  transplant- 
ings  of  the  Pear  tree  will  produce  a  mass  of  rootlets 
and  spongioles  that  somewhat  resembles  an  enormous 
head  of  hair.  The  transplantings  occurring  at  inter- 
vals of  two  or  three  years,  will  occasion  at  each 
removal  more  and  more  surprise  at  the  immense 
mass  of  roots,  and  the  great  change  which  will  have 
taken  place  in  their  character.  Instead  of  long 
straggling  laterals,  stretching  away  from  the  trunk 
for  several  yards,  masses  of  innumerable  fibres 
will  be  found,  contained  within  a  compass  of  three 
or  four  feet,  and  instead  of  the  feeble  shoots  that 
are  usually  produced  after  removal,  the  same  season 


HEELING-IN WITHERED  TREES.  103 

will   often   exhibit   a   vigorous  growth,  and   ripened 
fruit. 

HEELING-IK. 

"When  trees  arrive  at  an  inconvenient  time  for  their 
permanent  planting,  they  should  be  immediately 
heeled-in.  A  trench  should  be  dug  near]y  a  foot 
deep,  taking  care  to  throw  all  the  earth  upon  one  side, 
to  form  a  bank  sloping  to  the  bottom  of  the  ditch.  In 
this  trench  place  the  roots  of  the  trees  close  together, 
permitting  their  bodies  to  recline  against  the  bank ; 
then  sprinkle  the  earth  upon  the  roots  as  in  planting, 
taking  care  to  leave  no  spaces  for  mice  to  harbor  in, 
or  which  will  expose  the  roots  to  frost,  or  the  drying 
influence  of  the  atmosphere.  If  the  trees  are  to 
remain  any  length  of  time,  and  particularly  through 
the  winter,  this  is  a  labor  that  must  not  be  slighted, 
and  the  trees  should  receive  nearly  as  much  care  as 
in  permanent  planting. 

When  slightly  inclined,  the  trees  are  more  readily 
covered,  and  can  be  removed  with  less  injury  to  their 
roots.  If  the  trees  in  this  position  should  commence 
growing  before  it  is  convenient  to  plant  them,  the 
growth  may  immediately  be  checked  by  lifting  them 
sufficiently  to  detach  the  soft  spongioles  forming. 

TREATMENT   OF   WITHERED   TREES. 

When  the  roots  of  trees  that  arrive  from  the  nursery 
appear  dry,  if  the  branches  are  not  withered,  it  will 
be  sufficient  to  plunge  them  for  an  hour  into  a  thin 
mortar  of  clay  or  earth ;  but  when  the  trunk  and 
branches  present  a  shrunken  and  withered  appear- 
ance, they  should  be  at  once  laid  at  length  in  a  shal- 


104          SELECTING,   PLANTING,   AND   CULTIVATION. 

low  trench,  covered  lightly  with  earth,  and  left  from 
three  to  ten  days,  according  to  their  condition,  until 
the  bark  is  swollen  full  and  plump.  The  wood  of 
plants  is  not  a  solid  structure,  but  is  composed  of 
cells  or  short  tubes,  separated  by  woody  fibre.  These 
cells  are  the  arteries  and  veins  of  the  plant,  in  which 
is  conveyed  the  sap  which  hardens  into  wood  and 
bark,  or  is  developed  into  fruit  and  leaf. 

"When  the  tree  has  become  dry,  these  cells  contract 
so  much  that  sap  cannot  pass  through  them,  and  arti- 
ficial means,  such  as  are  above  described,  become 
necessary  to  restore  their  functions.  Trees  which  it 
is  necessary  to  treat  in  this  manner  should  be  short- 
ened in  to  a  greater  extent  than  is  needful  in  other 
cases,  and  when  planted,  the  ground  should  be  well 
mulched.  Frequent  sprinkling  and  watering  of  the 
branches  and  foliage  of  injured  and  poorly  rooted  trees 
is  found  much  more  useful  than  the  profuse  pouring  of 
water  upon  the  roots — by  preventing  the  evaporation 
through  the  leaves  from  exhausting  the  supply  of  sap 

PLANTING. 

Many  persons  imagine  it  necessary  to  choose  a  wet 
day  for  planting  trees.  On  a  light  sandy  loam,  little 
injury  would  result,  perhaps,  from  the  selection  of 
such  a  day,  but  for  planting  upon  a  strong  loam,  or 
clayey  soil,  no  choice  could  be  more  injudicious. 

The  earth  falls  in  mortar  or  in  clods  upon  the  roots, 
pressing  them  down  into  close  contact,  instead  of 
being  distributed  between  them,  and  thus  separating 
each  rootlet  from  its  fellow  with  intervening  earth 
that  would  soon  be  filled  with  fibres. 


PLANTING.  105 

9 

The  ground,  even  of  a  light  soil,  is  trodden  hard 
when  wet,  and  is  thus  left  in  the  most  unfit  condition 
for  future  cultivation.  Contrary  to  the  usual  belief, 
the  day  selected  ought  not  only  to  be  dry,  but  at 
least  two  or  three  days  should  have  elapsed  after  the 
falling  of  rain,  before  planting  is  commenced.  The 
soil  being  now  prepared,  and  the  holes  dug  according 
to  the  directions  given,  let  one  person  hold  the  tree  in 
an  upright  condition,  and  another  with  a  shaking 
motion  of  the  shovel  sift  the  mould  among  the  roots, 
ooccasionally  stopping  to  lift  those  roots  that  have 
fallen  below  their  natural  position.  The  necessity  of 
attending  carefully  to  this  latter  direction  will  be 
seen  from  the  fact  that  the  roots  of  trees,  especially 
when  fibrous,  are  thrown  out  in  layers  so  as  to  reach 
different  strata  of  earth,  and  that  no  two  roots  can  be 
found  growing  in  contact.  Consequently,  when  the 
roots  are  pressed  down  in  a  mass,  the  energies  of  the 
tree  must  be  greatly  crippled,  and  its  growth  retarded. 
When  the  roots  have  been  partially  covered  by  shak- 
ing in  the  pulverized  earth,  the  person  holding  the 
tree  may,  by  a  slight  tremulous  motion,  sift  the  finer 
particles  among  the  fibrous  roots,  and  thus  separate 
them  more  completely ;  but  carefully  avoiding  to  lift 
the  tree  so  as  to  alter  its  level,  or  tear  its  roots.  To 
prevent  the  formation  of  a  hollow  beneath  the  forked 
roots  of  a  tree,  a  mound  of  firm  earth  should  be  formed 
in  the  hole  upon  which  the  tree  is  to  be  planted,  and 
care  observed  to  press  the  earth  into  any  space  that 
may  remain. 

If  the  tree  is  found  to  be  planted  too  deeply,  it 
must  not  be  lifted,  with  all  the  weight  of  soil  upon  it, 

5* 


106          SELECTING,    PLANTING,    AND   CULTIVATION. 

• 

until  it  has  reached  its  proper  level  (as  this  careless 
plan  would  displace  all  the  roots,  and  entirely  ruin  the 
more  delicate  ones)  but  the  earth  should  be  carefully 
removed,  and  the  tree  reset.  The  hole  should  be  tilled, 
as  far  as  possible,  with  the  top  soil ;  and  to  obtain  a 
sufficiency  for  this  purpose,  the  soil  should  be  removed 
from  the  adjoining  surface,  and  intermingled  with  a 
portion  of  the  subsoil,  to  till  the  hole. 

If  the  earth  immediately  around  the  roots  of  a  tree 
is  poor,  the  most  skillful  cultivator  cannot  remedy 
the  defect  without  removal  of  the  tree  ;  but  when  an 
infertile  soil  is  upon  the  surface,  any  ordinary  laborer 
can  improve  it  by  manuring. 

The  loose  earth  with  which  holes  are  filled  in  plant- 
ing trees,  must  not  be  pressed  upon  the  roots  by  tread- 
ing, or  other  means,  under  the  pretext  of  fixing  the 
tree  firmly  in  its  place.  The  more  loose  and  porous  the 
soil  is  left,  in  filling  the  hole,  the  more  perfectly  will 
the  next  rains  wash  it  among  and  around  the  roots, 
and  solidify  the  ground.  If  convenient,  a  few  pails 
of  water  would  imperfectly  imitate  the  effect  of  rain, 
and  prove  temporarily  beneficial.  To  prevent  the 
displacement  of  the  tree  by  heavy  winds,  and  the  con- 
sequent racking  and  fracture  of  the  roots,  a  mound  of 
earth  should  be  raised  against  the  body,  to  remain 
through  the  winter,  and  for  a  month  or  more  in  spring. 

PLAN  OF  ARRANGING  PEAR  GROUNDS. 

By  training  all  the  trees  of  a  plantation,  whether  on 
Quince  or  Pear  roots,  as  pyramids  or  low  standards, 
but  little  care  need  be  observed  to  preserve  greater 
distances  between  those  on  Pear  stocks.  The  best 


PLAN  OF  ARRANGING  PEAR  GROUNDS. 


107 


arrangement  is  the  quincunx,  as  it  affords  a  larger 
space  to  trees  planted  in  this  manner,  than  set  oppo- 
site each  other.  Fig.  32. 
By  this  plan,  the  loofeet 
trees  will  be  ar- 
ranged in  rows 
in  five  different 
directions,  from 
which  fact  the 
method  takes  its 
name.  In  plant- 
ing, the  ground 
should  be  laid 
off  by  a  plow  in 
farrows,  at  the 
proper  distance. 
A  furrow  should 
then  be  plowed 
at  right  angles 
to  the  former,  at 
one  end  of  the 
plot,  where  the 
outside  row  of 
trees  is  to  be 
planted,  as  in 
Fig.  32.  The  dis- 
tance at  which 
the  next  paral- 
lel furrow  is 
to  be  plowed, 
should  be  one  half  of  that  at  which  the  trees 
are  to  be  planted  in  the  rows.  That  is,  if  the 
rows  are  ten  feet  from  each  other,  and  the  trees  are  to 


108          SELECTING,    PLANTING,    AND   CULTIVATION. 

be  planted  at  ten  feet  apart  in  the  rows,  the  cross  far- 
rows must  be  plowed  five  feet  distant  from  each  other. 

Every  alternate  crossing  will  indicate  the  position 
of  a  tree,  omitting  the  first  crossing  in  each  alternate 
row.  If  the  trees  are  planted  quite  up  to  the  bound- 
ary line,  this  plan  would  give  us  five  rows  of  twenty- 
two,  and  six  rows  of  twenty- three  trees  each,  or  an 
aggregate  of  248  trees  upon  a  plot  of  the  size  as  shown 
at  Fig.  32,  which  represents  half  an  acre  of  ground — 
although  the  addition  to  one  side  of  this  of  an  equal 
plot  of  ground  would  be  capable  of  containing  only 
225  trees.  If  trained  to  branch  near  the  ground, 
and  properly  pruned,  473  trees  may  be  grown  and 
fruited  upon  an  acre,  for  many  years,  without  crowding. 
By  this  method — improperly  termed  quincunx — each 
tree  would  stand  ten  feet  from  its  neighbors  in  the 
same  row,  and  a  trifle  over  twelve  feet  from  the  nearest 
in  the  adjacent  rows. 

The  true  quincunx  arrangement  is  formed  by  plac- 
ing the  trees  at  equal  distances  from  each  other  in 
every  direction,  and  when  the  distance  proposed  is  ten 
feet,  it  will  be  necessary  that  the  rows  should  be  laid 
out  at  eight  feet  eight  inches  apart,  and  the  trees 
planted  ten  feet  apart  in  the  rows,  as  represented  in 
Fig.  32.  By  this  arrangement,  each  tree  occupies  the 
centre  of  a  hexagon  of  equal  sides,  and  is  consequently 
equidistant  from  all  the  adjacent  trees — exactly  ten 
feet  separating  each  tree  in  the  plot  from  its  neighbors. 
By  this  method,  563  trees  maybe  planted  on  an  acre, 
as  we  gain  space  for  three  additional  rows. 

For  a  pear  garden,  I  have  found  ten  feet  to  be  an 
ample  distance ;  and  for  planting  an  acre,  would  recom- 


PLAN  OF  ARRANGING  PEAR  GROUNDS.      109 

mend  that  the  eleven  trees  at  each  end  of  the  plot, 
and  one  entire  row  of  twenty-three  trees,  should  be 
omitted  in  planting,  and  that  the  space  occupied  by 
the  row  be  divided  on  each  side  of  the  plot,  so  as  to 
leave  a  clear  unoccupied  space  of  five  feet  around  it. 
Five  hundred  trees  will  thus  find  ample  room  upon  an 
acre  ;  and  may  yield  their  fruit  to  one  generation  before 
they  will  give  evidence  of  being  crowded. 

A  plan  very  frequently  adopted  is,  the  planting  in 
borders  on  either  side  of  a  path  and  around  garden 
squares.  The  borders  should  be  deeply  tilled  and 
rich,  and  the  trees  may  be  planted  quite  closely. 

A  beautiful  effect  may  be  produced  by  preparing, 
on  each  side  of  a  path,  a  border  of  not  less  than 
twenty-five  feet  wide,  in  which  are  to  be  planted  fruit- 
trees,  in  a  form  to  produce  the  eifect  of  the  sides  of 
an  amphitheatre.  In  the  side  of  the  border  farthest 
from  the  path,  are  to  be  planted  the  most  vigorous 
varieties  of  pear  trees,  on  their  own  roots.  Next,  and 
at  a  distance  of  not  more  six  feet,  should  be  planted 
a  row  of  less  thrifty  kinds,  on  quince  roots.  Each 
succeeding  row  should  be  composed  of  varieties  less 
vigorous  in  their  growth  than  the  preceding,  until 
the  front  row  is  reached,  which  should  be  planted  with 
dwarf  apples. 

The  outside  row  may  be  planted  with  the  Vicar  of 
Winkfield  and  St.  Michael  Archange — the  second  with 
Bartlett  on  pear,  and  Urbaniste  on  quince  stocks, 
the  third  with  Duchesse  and  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey 
on  quince,  and  the  fourth  with  Flemish  Beauty  and 
Winter  Nelis  on  quince. 


110          SELECTING,   PLANTING.    AND   CULTIVATION. 


DEPTH   OF   PLANTING. 

No  part  of  fruit  culture  has  attracted  more  attention, 
and  elicited  more  speculation,  than  this".  In  one  point 
all  are  agreed,  that,  with  few  exceptions,  fruit-trees 
should  never  be  planted  deeper  than  they  grew  in  the 
nursery.  The  part  of  the  tree  called  the  collar,  where 
the  bark  of  the  roots  meets  that  of  the  trunk,  the  natural 
position  of  which  is  a  little  below  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  marks  the  limit  to  which  it  should  be  usually 
buried.  Although  the  earth  may  be  temporarily 
heaped  higher  than  this,  around  a  tree  just  planted, 
yet  it  should  generally  be  removed  soon  after  growth 
commences. 

A  Mr.  Comstock  created  some  sensation,  not  long 
since,  by  his  claim  to  have  discovered  the  grand  secret 
of  successful  fruit  culture.  He  acquired  some  money, 
and  a  sort  of  fame,  by  lectures  upon  what  he  termed 
the  science  of  Terra-culture — or,  cultivation  with- 
out disturbing  the  rootlets  which  till  the  soil.  His 
theory  was,  that  a  tree  planted  below  its  natural 
depth  threw  out  a  new  stratum  of  roots,  by  which  the 
equilibrium  was  lost,  and  it  became  thenceforth  a 
maimed  tree,  incapable  of  producing  its  maximum 
of  fruit.  But  his  theory  was  only  a  repetition  of 
the  old  story  of  human  error — a  part  taken  for  the 
whole. 

In  planting  in  a  dry  and  deeply  pulverized  soil, 
the  pear  tree  may  with  safety  be  placed  lower  than 
its  original  position.  According  to  my  own  expe- 
rience, it  is  quite  essential  to  success,  after  removing 
a  pear  tree  from  a  heavy  to  a  light  soil,  that  it  be 


DEPTH   OF   PLANTING.  Ill 

planted  one  or  two  inches  deeper  than  originally 
grown. 

But  in  wet  or  compact  soils,  or  on  those  composed 
in  great  part  of  organic  matter,  like  the  Western  prai- 
ries, a  preferable  plan  is,  to  ridge  up  the  soil  six  or 
eight  inches  high,  by  backfurrowing,  and  in  the  em- 
bankment plant  the  trees.  Some  persons  have  prac- 
ticed with  success,  on  wet  or  clay  soils,  a  plan  of  plant- 
ing on  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  covering  the 
roots,  by  heaping  up  a  mound  of  earth  much  wider 
than  the  space  occupied  by  them.  This  may  serve 
temporarily  ;  but  the  plan  is  a  mere  shift  to  escape  the 
labor  and  expense  of  draining,  and  permanently  im- 
proving the  soil. 

But  to  the  rule  generally  established  for  the  depth 
of  planting,  there  are  two  notable  exceptions.  First, 
while  the  Peach,  Cherry,  Plum,  and  Apple,  cannot  be 
planted  much  lower  than  the  collar  without  injury,  the 
Quince,  the  Grape,  and  the  Pear  on  quince  roots,  are, 
from  the  structure  of  their  bark  and  wood,  capable  of 
adapting  themselves  to  a  depth  of  planting  much  lower. 
Second,  when  the  soils  have  been  deeply  trenched  or 
subsoiled,  their  level  is  much  higher  than  in  their 
former  state,  and  in  compacting,  they  will  sink  away 
from  the  roots  planted  in  them,  leaving  the  upper 
ones  exposed,  unless  the  trees  should  be  planted 
deeper  than  grown  in  the  nursery.  Very  fibrous- 
rooted  trees  obtain  a  better  hold  of  the  soil,  and  are 
carried  down  with  it.  In  planting  grounds  deeply 
prepared  with  pear  trees,  I  have  found  those  on  the 
quince  stock,  by  their  fibrous  roots,  able  to  main- 
tain their  relative  position  in  the  soil,  while  in  its 


112          SELECTING,   PLANTING,   AND   CULTIVATION. 

compacting,  the  .trees  on  pear  stock  alternating  with 
the  others,  would  be  left  two  or  three  inches  out 
of  the  ground. 

CULTIVATION  OF  THE  PEAR  ORCHARD. 

A  reputation  for  bad  management,  and  perhaps  a 
residence  in  a  lunatic  asylum,  could  not  be  more  readily 
obtained  by  a  fanner,  than  to  persistently  practice  the 
growing  of  weeds  and  grass  in  his  potato  and  corn- 
fields, seeding  down  to  grass  the  garden  which  he  had 
just  planted  with  vegetables,  or  turning  his  cattle  to 
graze  in  his  ripening  grain. 

Yet,  scarcely  one  in  a  hundred  farmers  but  per- 
forms every  one  of  these  insane  practices  upon  his 
orchard  and  fruit  grounds.  Until  within  a  very  few 
years,  the  orchard  was  quite  as  much  relied  upon  for 
pasturage  and  grain  crops  as  the  meadow  and  fallow. 
Hundreds  of  thousands  of  trees  have  been  planted  in 
ground  cropped  year  after  year  with  corn  or  wheat, 
that  have  made  no  more  growth  in  five  years  than 
might  have  been  produced  in  two.  Nothing  could  be 
less  economical,  even  where  only  profit  was  desired. 
No  reason  can  be  given  why  a  field  of  corn  and  pota- 
toes should  be  cultivated  with  plow  and  hoe,  that 
is  not  an  equally  powerful  argument  in  favor  of  the 
game  treatment  of  young  trees ;  and  there  are  many 
reasons  why  the  latter  will  not  succeed  with  grass  and 
grain,  when  they  would  grow  luxuriantly  with  root 
crops.  One  of  the  principal  arguments  in  favor  of  the 
latter  practice  may  suggest  others  to  thinking  observ- 
ers. Vegetables  grown  for  their  roots  derive  the  far 
greater  portion  of  their  nutriment  from  the  atmosphere, 


CTTLTIVATION   OF   THE  PEAR  ORCHARD.  113 

through  their  broad  or  luxuriant  foliage,  while  grasses 
and  grains  take  more  largely  from  the  soil.  The  latter 
plants  not  only  permeate  the  soil  more  completely 
with  their  roots,  but  by  their  taller  and  denser  growth, 
prevent  that  free  contact  of  the  lower  branches  and 
leaves  with  the  atmosphere  necessary  for  the  absorp- 
tion of  nutritious  gases,  and  the  deposit  of  invigorat- 
ing dews. 

The  experience  of  the  best  horticulturists  confirms 
the  opinion  that  the  cultivation  of  the  ground,  equal 
to  that  usually  bestowed  upon  corn  and  potatoes, 
coupled  with  the  avoidance  of  any  grain  crop,  will 
hasten  the  maturity  and  fruiting  of  the  Pear,  from  six 
to  ten  years.  If  the  ground  is  root-cropped,  the  cul- 
tivation for  the  roots  will  afford  an  excellent  tillage 
for  the  trees,  which,  for  a  few  years,  will  but  little 
interfere  with  the  growth  of  the  former.  The  plowing 
must  be  managed  with  some  skill  to  avoid  wounding 
the  trunk  with  the  whiffletree,  or  cutting  and  exposing 
the  roots  with  the  share,  and  the  distance  of  plow 
cultivation  from  the  tree  should  be  increased  each 
year,  to  avoid  injury  to  the  growing  roots.  On  this 
account,  the  surface  near  the  tree  should  not  be  dis- 
turbed more  than  two  or  three  inches  deep,  after  the 
latter  has  acquired  considerable  size,  and  this  opera- 
tion should  be  performed  with  a  digging-fork.  Almost 
every  cultivator  of  trees  has  observed  striking  instances 
of  the  difference  in  their  growth,  when  cultivated  or 
neglected ;  but  the  narrative  of  one  may  not  be  inap- 
propriate. A  few  years  since,  a  gentleman,  having 
planted  a  considerable  number  of  pear  and  other  fruit- 
trees,  devoted  a  portion  of  the  ground  occupied  by 


114          SELECTING,    PLANTING,   AND   CULTIVATION. 

them  to  his  vegetable  garden,  while  the  remainder 
was  retained  as  a  lawn.  The  trees  growing  in  the 
trenched  and  cultivated  garden  are  handsome  pyra- 
mids, ten  feet  high,  and  in  bearing,  while  those  in  tiie 
lawn,  although  with  a  space  of  two  feet  around  them 
cleared  from  grass,  have  not  perceptibly  increased  for 
six  years. 

MULCHING. 

No  process  will  more  essentially  aid  in  sustaining 
the  life  of  a  tree,  enabling  it  to  resist  the  rude  shock 
of  being  torn  from  its  native  soil,  and  inducing  vigor- 
ous growth,  than  mulching,  or  covering  the  soil  with 
any  waste  or  half-decayed  vegetable  material.  The 
half-rotted  straw  of  the  bottoms  of  stacks,  leaves  gath- 
ered from  the  woods,  the  refuse  clippings  and  tan-bark 
from  leather  factories,  are  all  of  value  for  this  purpose. 
Covering  the  ground  with  these,  three  or  four  inches 
deep,  around  the  newly-planted  trees,  has  the  effect  of 
preserving  a  moist  condition  of  the  soil,  and  an  even 
temperature  during  the  great  heat  of  summer.  A  most 
important  element  in  the  growth  of  plants  is  this  pre- 
servation of  an  equable  temperature,  as  may  be  seen 
in  a  cold  vinery,  where  the  range  of  the  thermometer 
scarcely  varies  ten  degrees  during  day  and  night.  The 
mulching  also  protects  the  ground  from  excessive 
evaporation ;  so  that,  during  long  periods  of  drought, 
the  ground  remains  uniformly  moist  and  light.  To 
the  Pear  this  treatment  is  peculiarly  grateful,  for 
there  are  few  plants  in  which  respiration  goes  on  so 
rapidly,  and  which  require  such  constant  supplies  of 
moisture.  A  curious  and  instructive  experiment  is 
narrated.  A  pear  tree  was  grown  in  a  large  tub  until 


MULCHING.  115 

it  had  obtained  a  vigorous  condition,  and  when  the 
soil  was  in  a  comparatively  low  state  of  humidity, 
the  weight  of  the  vessel  with  its  earth  and  tree  was 
ascertained. 

In  a  warm  July  day,  a  given  weight  of  water  was 
supplied,  and  the  earth  protected  from  surface  evapor- 
ation by  a  cover.  In  forty  hours,  the  whole  was  again 
weighed,  when  it  was  found  that  seven  gallons  of 
water  had  been  thrown  off  by  the  leaves  of  the  tree 
or  more  than  twice  its  own  weight. 

Prof.  MAPES  narrates  an  experiment  which  he 
performed  upon  a  pyramidal  pear  tree  three  years 
planted,  and  seven  feet  high.  A  hole  was  dug 
beneath  one  of  the  largest  roots,  which  remaining 
attached  to  the  tree,  and  with  all  its  spongioles  as 
nearly  entire  as  possible,  was  placed  in  a  pail  of  water, 
and  the  whole  carefully  covered  with  a  blanket.  In 
twenty-four  hours  the  tree  was  found  to  have  appro- 
priated nearly  two  gallons  of  the  water.  No  small 
benefit  derived  from  mulching,  is  owing  to  the  fact 
that  trees  so  treated  need  no  watering ;  and  the  excuse 
for  the  barbarous  practice  of  frequently  drenching 
their  delicate  rootlets  with  cold  water  is  removed. 
Poorly-rooted  trees,  or  such  as  have  been  exposed 
before  planting,  or  are  quite  withered  and  dry,  or 
indeed  all  plants  which  survive  transplanting  with 
much  difficulty,  can  in  many  instances  be  saved  by 
mulching  deeply  for  five  or  six  feet  about  the  tree. 
The  loose  texture  of  the  mulch  does  not  prevent 
atmospheric  contact  with  the  soil,  and  being  con- 
stantly damp,  both  the  mulch  and  the  earth  absorb 
ammonia  and  carbonic  acid  vapor.  Some  varieties  of 


116          SELECTING,   PLANTING,   AND   CULTIVATION. 

pear  of  great  excellence,  which  crack  badly,  may  be 
ripened  in  perfection  by  mulching,  as  the  cracking  is 
in  some  degree  due  to  an  .insufficient  supply  of  sap. 
The  mulch  not  only  acts  as  an  absorbent  of  fertilizing 
gases,  but  in  time  becomes  itself  a  valuable  manure. 

There  are,  however,  some  counterbalancing  disad- 
vantages in  mulching,  which  will  confine  its  practice 
to  the  single  season  of  planting.  The  immense  in- 
crease of  insects,  which  will  propagate  in  its  shelter 
— the  ravages  of  mice  that  find  beneath  it  security 
from  pursuit — and  the  late  growth  of  shoots  which  it 
induces,  liable  to  winter-blight,  are  some  of  the  effects 
of  its  continuance. 

After  much  experiment,  I  am  convinced  that  the 
best  mulch  for  any  other  than  newly-planted  trees  is 
a  soil  often  stirred  with  the  dew  upon  it. 

CROPPING  THE  GROUND  FOR  A  MULCH. 

A  very  convenient  substitute  for  litter,  and  one 
from  which  none  of  the  evils  noted  will  result,  is  an 
early  crop  of  some  of  the  broad-leaved  vegetables. 
Turnips,  beets,  and  potatoes,  are  valuable  in  the  order 
they  are  mentioned  for  this  purpose,  and  would  in 
most  cases  repay  the  labor  of  cultivating  the  trees  on 
them.  The  first  two  have  the  additional  advantage 
of  penetrating  and  loosening  the  soil  without  bruising 
the  roots  of  the  trees ;  and  by  the  superior  coolness  of 
their  leaves  to  the  night-air,  condense  the  humidify 
in  currents  of  atmosphere  passing  over  them,  in  the 
shape  of  dew,  which  would  Inive  fallen  upon  the 
plowed  field  or  the  dusty  road ;  and  thus  assist  in 
nourishing  the  feebler  foliage  of  the  newly-planted 


SPECIAL  MANURES  AFTER  PLANTING.  117 

trees.  Notwithstanding  all  these  devices  for  pre- 
serving moisture  in  the  earth,  the  golden  rule  of  agri- 
culture should  be  remembered.  Soils  disturbed  when, 
dry,  or  during  the  heat  of  the  day,  loose  their  moisture ; 
but  plowed  or  hoed  in  early  morning,  more  moisture 
is  acquired. 

SPECIAL   MANURES   FOR   THE   PEARS   AFTER   PLANTING. 

That  a  Flemish  Beauty  or  a  Napoleon  will  be  pro- 
duced in  perfection  in  one  soil,  while,  a  mile  distant, 
and  in  one  of  precisely  similar  appearance,  they  fail 
to  be  anything  more  than  second  rate,  is  a  mystery 
that  has  hitherto  mocked  our  investigation.  It  is 
unfortunate  that  nostrums,  based  upon  some  degree 
of  knowledge  of  the  necessities  of  the  case,  have  been 
palmed  off  upon  the  community,  deterring  many 
persons  from  further  investigation;  still,  when  we 
recollect  what  science  has  done  for  human  develop- 
ment, it  may  reasonably  be  expected  to  perform  much 
for  vegetation. 

If  it  is  remembered,  that  it  is  a  great  thing  in  an 
experiment  to  have  Nature  upon  one's  side^  the  ana- 
lysis of  the  Pear  will  suggest  the  course  our  invest- 
igation should  take. 

It  is  not  unfrequent  that  trees  exhibiting  every 
quality  requisite  for  fruiting  fail  for  many  years  to 
produce  a  single  pear,  when  the  application  of  a  bushel 
of  lime,  a  dressing  of  wood-ashes,  a  small  quantity  of 
bone-meal,  or  of  iron  filings,  or  refuse  sand  from  the 
foundry,  has  brought  them  into  immediate  fruitfulness. 
I  have  seen  some  very  surprising  effects  of  some  of 
these  materials,  in  the  vigorous  growth  and  fruiting 


118          SELECTING,    PLANTING,   AND   CULTIVATION-. 

of  trees  hitherto  barren.  It  should  be  understood, 
that  a  tree  can  no  more  grow,  and  produce  fruit, 
when  one  of  its  elements  is  lacking,  though  all  the 
others  are  present,  than  a  house  can  be  built,  when 
all  its  materials,  except  the  nails,  have  been  obtained. 

Mr.  DOWNING  was  of  the  opinion,  that  bones  finely 
ground  and  mixed  with  wood-ashes,  would  prevent 
the  leaf-rust ;  and  several  nurserymen  who  have  used 
the  compost  seem  to  adopt  the  same  belief. 

Mr.  BAHKY  very  tersely  and  happily  remarks : 
"Bone-dust,  blacksmiths'  cinders,  muck-lime,  wood- 
ashes,  and  half  a  dozen  other  things,  have  been  recom- 
mended to  be  compounded,  in  pecks  and  half-pecks, 
all  with  a  view  to  remedy  the  rust,  or  leaf-blight,  that 
no  man  can  say  originates  in  any  defect  of  the  soil." 
But  the  failure  of  specific  manures  to  produce  certain 
results,  for  which  no  rationale  founded  in  natural 
science  could  be  given,  ought  not  to  deter  us  from 
investigation  in  a  philosophical  manner.  Some  simple 
facts  illustrative  of  the  value  of  scientific  knowledge 
in  the  management  of  the  Pear  may  be  stated.  On 
a  plot  of  rich  ground,  where  blight  had  year  after 
year  affected,  the  Pear,  its  farther  ravages  were  pre- 
vented by  a  large  application  of  lime ;  this  was 
accounted  for  by  the  destructive  action  of  the  lime 
upon  the  excessive  organic  matter  of  the  soil,  thus 
inducing  a  more  stocky  and  well  ripened  growth. 
Dr.  N.  R.  TEFT,  of  Onondaga,  so  changed  the  appear- 
ance, in  shape  and  size,  of  the  fruit  borne  on  a  Yir- 
galieu  pear  tree  by  a  very  large  application  of  leached 
ashes,  that  specimens  of  it  received  the  premium  from 
the  American  Institute  as  the  boat  new  table-pear. 


SPECIAL   MANURES    AFTER   PLANTING.  119 

Some  remarkably  fine  Bartletts,  and  handsome 
specimens  of  other  varieties,  having  attracted  atten- 
tion, they  were  found  to  have  been  raised  by  a  black- 
smith of  ISTewtown,  Long  Island,  from  trees  that 
received  the  refuse  of  his  forge. 

At  the  Exhibition  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural 
Society,  185T,  which  was  pronounced  by  Europeans 
superior  in  its  show  of  pears  to  any  which  could  be 
made  in  Europe,  the  collection  of  Mr.  BACON  was 
awarded  the  highest  premium  for  the  ten  best  varieties. 
These  pears,  the  most  beautiful  in  color,  regular  in 
shape,  and  the  largest  in  size  of  their  respective  vari- 
eties, were  grown  over  a  salt  marsh  which  had  been 
filled  three  or  four  feet.  I  ascertained,  on  inquiry,  that 
several  other  gardens,  which  occupied  similar  posi- 
tions, were  remarkable  for  the  fine  pears  grown  upon 
them.  The  Napoleon,  Soldat  Laboureur,  and  other 
new  varieties,  that  have  generally  proved  but  second- 
rate,  have  been  produced  of  the  very  highest  quality, 
when  the  trees  had  been  liberally  treated  to  super- 
phosphate of  lime. 

Dr.  LINDLEY,  author  of  a  treatise  on  "Vegetable 
Physiology,"  and  a  nurseryman  of  great  experience  in 
England,  strongly  recommends  the  use  of  superphos- 
phate of  lime  for  newly-planted  trees,  as  it  excites  the 
rapid  formation  of  fibrous  roots,  and  thus  provides  for 
supplying  the  great  waste  of  fluids,  which  is  carried 
on  with  such  rapidity  from  the  leaves  and  branches. 

These  facts,  even  if  they  teach  us  nothing  positive, 
certainly  indicate  the  direction  in  which  our  invest- 
igations should  be  pursued. 


120          SELECTING,   PLANTING, 


INVIGORATING    OLD   TREES. 

The  cause  of  the  want  of  vigor,  slow  growth,  often 
of  entire  cessation  of  increase  in  pear  trees  of  con- 
siderable size,  is  generally  the  exhaustion  of  the  soil 
within  the  range  of  their  roots ;  the  whole  energy  of 
the  trees  being  devoted  to  sustaining  the  fruit  buds  and 
spurs,  no  wood  growth  can  be  made  while  this  exhaust- 
ive fruit  production  proceeds.  There  is  also  an  entire 
suspension  of  the  absorptive  and  perspiratory  func- 
tions of  the  bark  caused  by  the  incrustation  of  dead 
bark,  moss,  and  fungi  that  cover  the  tree.  The  aged 
roots  have  lost  their  radicles,  and  do  not  possess  the 
power  to  push  out  spongioles  into  new  and  unex- 
hausted soil. 

These  conditions  suggest  at  once  the  remedy.  A 
trench  should  be  dug  around  the  tree,  at  about  as  many 
feet  distant  from  it  as  there  are  inches  in  the  diameter 
of  the  trunk,  though  rarely  farther  than  six  or  eight 
feet.  This  trench  should  be  at  least  two  or  three  feet 
wide,  and  as  deep  as  the  roots  penetrate,  the  latter 
being  pruned  off  with  a  smooth  cut.  The  sods  around 
the  trees  should  be  pared  off  to  the  depth  of  four  or 
five  inches,  and  mixed  with  manure  to  fill  the  trench, 
and  a  good  generous  compost  of  new  earth  and  barn- 
yard manure  should  be  put  around  the  tree  in  place 
of  the  sods  removed.  The  old  and  feeble  branches 
having  only  fruit  spurs,  should  be  shortened  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  form  a  handsome  top.  The  rough  fun- 
gus bark  should  be  gently  scraped  away,  care  being 
taken  not  to  expose  the  vital  bark  beneath.  A  better 
method  is  to  wash  with  strong  soap-suds  or  potash 


GKAFTING    LAKGE   TKEES.  121 

water  ;  the  old  bark  will  be  loosened  and  pushed  off 
by  the  new  formation  of  bark  beneath. 

If  the  tree  is  of  an  inferior  or  wild  variety,  the 
smaller  branches  may  be  filled  with  grafts,  of  which  a 
large  number  should  be  set,  in  order  not  to  prune  the 
tree  too  severely,  and  also  to  furnish  it  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible with  new  respiratory  organs. 

GRAFTING   LAKGE   TKEES. 

It  is  a  very  common  result  of  grafting  large  trees, 
that  after  producing  an  apparently  vigorous  growth 
for  two  or  three  years,  they  exhibit  tokens  of  disease, 
and  finally  die. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  this  is  the  result  of  too 
great  an  interference  with  the  structure  of  the  tree,  by 
cutting  away  nearly  all  the  top  in  a  single  season,  for 
the  purpose  of  grafting.  The  roots  prepared  by  a 
vigorous  top,  with  an  abundance  of  rich  condensed 
sap,  are,  in  their  turn,  ready  to  offer  a  copious  supply 
to  the  top,  for  elaboration,  and  oxygenizing  by  the 
leaves. 

Thrown  back  or  suspended  in  the  structure  of  the 
tree  by  this  severe  pruning,  the  sap  becomes  condensed 
by  evaporation,  and  remains  clogging  and  suffocating 
the  vital  energies  of  the  tree,  which  makes  strenuous 
efforts  to  supply  itself  with  the  organs  of  respiration. 

The  true  method  of  grafting  trees  more  than  five  or 
six  years  old  is,  to  remove  not  more  than  one-third  to 
one-half  of  the  top  in  one  season,  and  set  a  very  large 
number  of  grafts  in  the  limbs,  or  to  dig  a  trench  about 
the  tree,  and  thus  shorten  the  roots  to  prevent  too  large 
a  supply  of  sap. 


PAKT  IV.— THE  PEAK  UPON  THE  QUINCE 
STOCK. 

OFFICE   OF   THE   QUINCE. 

THE  office  of  the  Quince,  in  its  association  with  the 
pear  tree,  does  not  seem  to  have  been  generally  con- 
sidered. It  is  the  only  one  of  our  fruit-trees  which  is 
readily  propagated  from  layers  or  cuttings.  Of  one 
thousand  cuttings  of  other  species  of  fruit-trees, 
planted  in  the  ordinary  manner,  but  a  very  few 
would  strike  root,  while  of  the  same  number  of  the 
Quince,  but  very  few  would  fail  to  grow.  The  por- 
tion o£  quince  on  a  quince-rooted  pear  tree,  which 
has  hitherto  served  as  trunk,  will,  if  covered  with  soil, 
in  a  few  days,  throw  out  rootlets,  and  thenceforth  per- 
form the  office  of  root  to  the  tree  it  supports.  It  seems 
therefore,  incredible,  that  with  these  facts  in  view, 
intelligent  cultivators  should  have  failed  to  provide 
the  conditions  for  the  Quince  to  fulfill  its  office. 

By  planting  so  deeply  that  the  Quince  is  entirely 
beneath  the  ground,  all  the  objections  to  its  use  in 
propagating  the  Pear  are  overcome.  The  principal 
of  these  objections  are :  First,  that  the  Pear  grown  on 
the  Quince  is  short-lived.  Second,  that  the  trees  often 
break  at  the  junction,  from  imperfect  union.  Third, 
they  are  always  of  small  size.  Fourth,  that  the  Peai 
(  122  ) 


CAUSES   OF   FAILURE.  123 

outgrows  the  Quince,  and  produces  a  deformity.  All 
these  difficulties  have  been  remedied,  or  avoided 
altogether,  by  planting  so  deeply  that  the  Quince  is 
entirely  beneath  the  ground,  for  the  office  of  the  Quince 
is  entirely  as  a  root,  and  never  as  a  trunk. 

CAUSES    OF    THE    FAILURE   OF   THE    PEAR   ON   THE   QUINCE. 

The  introduction  of  new  plants,  or  of  novel  modes 
of  cultivating  old  ones,  is  always  attended  with  many 
failures,  arising  from  insufficient  knowledge  of  the 
conditions  necessary  to  the  success  of  the  experiments. 

The  value  of  the  Quince  as  a  stock  for  the  Pear  has 
been  a  subject  of  much  dispute ;  but  candid  observers, 
aiming  only  at  the  exact  truth,  have  settled  into  the 
conviction,  that  its  failure  for  this  purpose  has  pro- 
ceeded in  every  instance  from  some  neglect  of  the 
necessary  conditions  of  its  growth.  The  causes  of 
failure  may  be  summed  up  as  follows : 

First — In  the  heat  of  the  first  demand  for  pear  trees 
upon  quince  stocks,  many  thousands  of  the  common 
or  Portugal  Quince  were  used.  This  variety  is  entirely 
unfitted  for  this  purpose,  by  its  slow  growth,  and 
slight  assimilation  with  the  Pear,  and  the  small  size  it 
attains. 

Second — All  the  varieties  of  pear  were  at  first  indis- 
criminately grown  on  the  Quince,  without  regard  to 
their  fitness.  But  it  is  now  well  ascertained  that  only 
a  limited  number  of  our  finer  pears  are  entirely 
adapted  to  the  Quince. 

Third — The  office  of  the  Quince  in  the  double  tree 
being  wholly  mistaken,  it  was  planted  as  it  stood  in 
fhe  nursery,  often  with  the  junction  of  the  two  species 


124      THE  PEAR  UPON  THE  QUINCE  STOCK. 

from  three  to  eight  inches  above  the  soil ;  and  in  ad- 
dition to  this  mischievous  practice,  the  tree  was  not 
unfrequently  trimmed  up  as  a  standard.  This  method 
of  pruning  gave  the  top,  when  large,  a  great  lever 
power  at  the  ground ;  and  the  trees,  unable  to  resist 
the  force  of  the  wind,  often  parted  at  the  junction  of 
the  bud  with  the  stock.  If  the  tree  survived,  it  was 
often  a  monstrosity  of  growth,  the  pear  swelling  out 
to  twice  the  diameter  of  the  quince. 

ADVANTAGES   OF  THE   QUINCE   AS   A   STOCK. 

The  conditions  and  advantages  of  the  use  of  quince 
stocks,  have  been  so  fairly  and  clearly  set  forth  in  a 
communication  of  ME.  Louis  BERCKMANS  to  The  Agri- 
culturist•,  that  I  shall  insert  it  h§re.  MK.  BERCKMANS 
has  devoted  a  life  of  great  activity  and  intelligence 
to  experiments  upon  the  Pear — enjoying  the  personal 
acquaintance  of  those  gentlemen,  both  in  Europe  and 
America,  whose  names  will  always  be  associated  with 
its  culture.  His  collection  is  large,  and  embraces 
selections  from  the  best  seedlings  of  YAN  MONS,  Es- 
PERIN,  BIVORT,  and  others.  His  great  experience 
entitles  his  testimony  to  the  highest  consideration. 

In  answer  to  the  vexed  question — Will  pears  budded 
on  the  Quince  succeed  ? — MR.  BERCKMANS  says :  "  I 
have  no  hesitation  in  saying :  <  Yes,  they  will ;'  and  often 
better  than  on  pear  stocks,  and  they  are  less  subject  to 
blight.  I  know  that  I  do  not  agree  with  the  opinions 
of  my  late  friends  YAN  MONS  and  ESPKUIX,  who  never 
would  admit  a  quince  stock  in  their  experimental 
gardens.  I  respect  their  memory,  but  cannot  help 
considering  their  opinion  as  a  prejudice.  They  had 


ADVANTAGES  OF  THE  QUINCE  AS  A  STOCK.    125 

not  found  the  good  quince  stock,  and,  perhaps,  did  not 
know  how  to  plant  quince-grafted  trees.  Unless  the 
proper  quince  stock  be  used,  no  good  result  need  be 
expected.  I  have  seen  some  singular  mistakes  in 
publications,  for  want  of  proper  attention  paid  to  the 
question,  whether  trees  had  "been  budded  upon  the  An- 
gers, or  upon  the  indigenous  quince,  the  latter  being 
very  inferior,  if  not  worthless.  The  quince  stock  for 
7iurseries  is  produced  from  the  twigs  or  branches 
heeled  or  laid  in  before  winter,  and  planted  early  in 
the  spring.  This  operation  succeeds  better  in  damp 
and  cool  climates,  and  in  sandy  soils,  than  in  this  part 
of  the  United  States.  Therefore,  most  of  those  plants 
are  imported  (chiefly  from  France),  although  they 
can  be  produced  here,  with  proper  care,  in  soils  fitted 
for  them. 

"  At  present,  my  best  trees  are  on  the  Quince ;  and 
my  best  fruit  also.  Those  who  would  successfully 
cultivate  the  dwarfs  must  pay  attention  to  the  follow- 
ing rules : 

"  1.  Have  -a  good,  substantial,  rather  deep  soil,  with 
porous  or  drained  subsoil. 

2.  Select  the  good  Angers  or  Orleans  Quince  for 
stock. 

"  3.  Plant  no  other  varieties  than  those  which  suc- 
ceed on  the  Quince. 

"  4.  Plant  the  trees  deep  enough,  so  that  the  place 
where  they  have  been  budded  shall  be  at  least  three 
inches  below  the  surface  of  the  soil.  In  rolling  ground, 
cover  with  stones,  or  damp  mould,  so  as  to  prevent 
the  washing  away  of  the  light  soil. 

"  5.  Keep  the  weeds  down. 


126      THE  PEAR  UPON  THE  QUINCE  STOCK. 

"  6.  Keep  the  branches  low,  and  make  a  pyramidal 
tree,  by  judicious  pruning  once  or  twice  a  year.  A  tree 
with  a  heavy,  high  top,  must  not  be  upon  the  Quince. 
Levels  or  gentle  slopes  are  better  than  hills  or  rolling 
ground. 

"  It  is  a  fortunate  circumstance  that  most  of  the  best 
market  varieties  are  also  best  suited  to  the  quince 
stock.  Yery  often  the  grafted  tree,  when  placed  in 
silicious  (sandy)  soil  or  loam,  forms  its  own  roots  just 
where  it  has  been  budded  ;  and  then,  with  the  steadi- 
ness of  the  pear  stock,  it  retains  the  fertility  of  the 
Quince. 

"  Much  has  been  said  about  the  short-living  of  the 
quince  stock.  If  properly  planted  in  genial  soil,  which 
is  not  exhausted  or  impoverished  by  intervening  field 
crops  without  a  reasonable  supply  of  manure,  as  most 
of  our  apple  orchards  are  ;  if  free  from  ill  weeds  and 
shrubs,  and  other  drawbacks,  the  quince-grafted  tree 
will  thrive  for  fifty  years  or  more.  Some  actual  facts 
will  prove  what  I  state.  Hon.  M.  P.  WILDER  has  in 
his  garden,  in  Dorchester,  trees  which  he  bought  from 
the  widow  of  Mr.  PARMENTIER,  Long  Island,  some 
twenty  years  ago.  They  have  yielded  fine  crops 
almost  every  year.  Some  have  been  regrafted  with 
new  varieties ;  one  of  them  with  Beurre  Clairgeau, 
which  bore  this  year  between  one  and  two  bushels 
of  the  finest  and  largest  pears.  These  trees  look 
healthy,  despite  all  their  mutilations,  and  there  is 
no  reason  to  anticipate  a  diminution  of  growth  or 
crops.  These  trees  are  on  the  Quince,  but  they  have 
been  planted  by  a  man  who  knows  how  to  manage 
trees. 


ADVANTAGES  OF  THE  QUINCE  AS  A  STOCK.   127 

"  In  the  same  garden  are  some  fine  Urbaniste  trees — - 
a  part  on  the  Pear,  and  a  part  on  the  Quince — planted 
in  the  same  spot,  in  the  same  year.  Those  on  the  pear 
roots  are  now  beginning  to  bear  fruit  sparingly, 
while  the  others,  on  quince,  have  yielded  bushels  of 
fruit  for  the  last  seven  years,  and  are  actually  loaded 
with  a  splendid  crop.  All  are  equally  healthy  ;  but, 
those  on  pear  stocks,  not  having  exhausted  part  of 
their  vigor  in  the  best  marketable  produce  .for  years 
back,  are  rather  more  vigorous.  By  thinning  the  crop 
early,  so  as  to  make  it  moderate,  those  pyramids  may 
be  easily  brought  up  to  the  full  vigor  of  their  unpro- 
ductive neighbors.  Now  comes  the  important  ques- 
tion: 

"  '  Will  quince  roots  do  for  orchards  T 

For  orchards,  as  we  find  them  on  most  of  our  farms, 
a  promenade  ground  for  cattle,  a  dreary  waste  of  ill 
weeds,  badly  cultivated  and  shallow  soil,  stagnant 
water,  injudicious  selection  of  varieties,  and  more 
injudicious  pruning  with  axes  or  dull  chopping-knives 
— no,  sir !  No  fruit-tree  of  a  refined  class,  no  tree 
of  any  value,  will  do  in  such  conditions.  One  half 
of  the  trouble,  manure,  and  labor,  which  a  poor  vine- 
yard requires  in  France,  would  make  a  thrifty  pear 
orchard,  and  would  certainly  pay  better. 

"Let  us  look  at  some  fine  nurseries  (schools)  or 
orchards  where  specimen  trees  are  cultivated  with 
care,  and  in  proper  soil  and  localities,  and  facts  (those 
stubborn)  things  will  soon  bring  conviction  in  the  place 
of  doubts. 

"  Messrs.  ELWANGER  &  BERRY,  and  others,  in  Koches- 
ter ;  Mr.  WILDER  and  Mr.  HOVEY,  near  Boston ;  CHAS. 


128       THE  PEAR  UPON  THE  QUINCE  STOCK. 

DOWNING,  inlSTewburg ;  Dr.  GRANT,  near  Peekskill ;  Mr. 
REID,  Elizabethtown,  ]N.  J. ;  and  many  others,  cultivate 
the  Pear  on  the  quince  stock  with  the  best  results. 
At  Mr.  Chas.  DOWNING'S,  where  every  fruit  and  flower 
is  cultivated  in  perfection,  the  surface  of  the  ground 
in  the  dwarf  orchards  is  covered  with  straw,  refuse 
hay,  &c.,  and  no  care  nor  cultivation  is  required ;  no 
weeds  find  their  way  through  that  carpet,  renewed  or 
supplied  with  new  straw  or  brush  every  two  or  three 
years.  Mr.  DOWNING  seems  to  be  perfectly  satisfied 
with  his  system,  and  indeed  he  must  be. 

"  In  conclusion,  let  me  say,  that  when  one  expects  to 
reap  the  fruit  of  industry,  he  needs  to  give  the  proper 
attention  to  it ;  if  he  expects  a  fruit-tree  to  yield  crops 
of  the  most  refined  fruit,  and  to  grow  as  a  maple  or  a 
cedar  in  the  woods,  he  is  badly  mistaken.  The  old 
saying,  that  "  a  tree  must  take  care  of  itself,"  is  non- 
sense, when  applied  to  fruit-trees  of  improved  kinds. 
It  would  do  as  well  to  plant  dahlias  or  prairie  roses 
in  a  swamp,  or  among  thistles  and  briars. 

"  He  who  wants  large  crops  of  pears,  indifferent  in 
size  or  quality,  may  plant  all  his  trees  on  the  pear 
stock,  in  deep  soil ;  but  he  has  to  wait  from  ten  to 
fifteen  years.  If  you  want  large,  fine  fruit,  which,  in 
fact,  pays  better,  with  less  trouble  and  expense,  select 
your  varieties  on  the  Quince.  These  will  often  bear 
the  first  year,  and  always  the  third  or  fourth  from  their 
planting.  If  I  had  thirty  trees  to  plant,  twenty  should 
be  on  the  Quince,  the  balance  on  pear  stock. 

"  Some  varieties  will  not  grow  upon  the  Quince,  but 
even  these  do  well  double  worked — that  is,  budded  or 
grafted  upon  a  variety  worked  already  upon  the 


ADVAJSTAGES   OF  THE   QUINCE   AS   A   STOCK.         129 

Quince  and  succeeding  upon  it.  The  French  call  it 
intermediary  grafting. 

"  In  planting  orchards,  the  same  care  and  the  same 
digging  is  required  for  a  standard  as  for  a  quince 
stock,  but  how  different  the  result  ?  Ask  Mr.  HOVEY, 
and  others  around  Boston,  from  which  they  derive 
their  largest  profits.  They  all  agree  that  the  quince 
root  has  paid  the  soil,  the  expenses,  tree  and  all,  long 
before  a  pear  stock  has  shown  any  sign  of  bearing. 

"  Below  is,  according  to  my  own  and  my  friends' 
'experience,  a  list  of  varieties  which  will  do  for  the 
market,  till  new  and  as  good  varieties  can  be  added. 
We  must  consider  that  the  introduction  of  new  varie- 
ties of  fruit  into  the  market  is  not  an  easy  thing. 
Those  named  below  are  also  the  best  adapted  to  the 
most  of  the  States  between  thirty  and  forty  degrees  of 
north  latitude. 

"  I. — VARIETIES  OF  PEARS  WHICH  DO  WELL  ON  THE  PEAR  STOCK,  OR  WHEN 

DOUBLE   WORKED. 

"  Those  marked  a  do  not  succeed  well  on  quince 
stocks.  Those  marked  ~b  do  bear  as  early  and  as  well 
as  others  on  the  Quince.  They  are  arranged  accord- 
ing to  their  value  for  general  cultivation,  market  pur- 
poses, &c : 

a.  Lawrence  (often  good  on  Quince) 

— Nov.,  Dec. 
a.  Heathcot — Sept. 
a.  Onondaga — Oct. 
a.  Kingsessing — Sept. 

a.  Pratt — Sept.  Oct. 
—  Philadelphia— Sept. 

b.  Buffum— Sept.,  Oct. 


b.  Bartlett— Sept. 
6.  Madeleine — Aug. 

a.  Seckle,  (sometimes  does  well  on 

Quince.) 

b.  Beurre  Clairgeau — Oct.,  Nov. 
a.  Columbia — Nov. 

a.  Dix — Dec. 

a.  Doyenne  Boussock — Sept. 


And  many  others.      The  above  are  all  good-lookmg 
fruits,  and  of  course  will  sell  readily. 

6* 


130      THE  PEAR  UPON  THE  QUINCE  STOCK. 


"II. — VARIETIES  ADAPTED  TO  THE  QUINCE  STOCK,  WHICH  ALSO  DO  WELL 

ON   THE    PEAR   STOCK. 


Louise  Bonne   de  Jersey  —  Sept., 

Oct. 

Duchesse  d'Angouleme — Oct.,  Nov. 
Beurre  Diel— Oct.,  Nov. 
Vicar  of  Winkfield— winter. 
Urbaniste — Oct.  Nov. 
Beurre  Superfin — Oct. 
Beurre    Hardy    (or    Sterckman) — 


Sept. 


Glout  Morceau — winter." 


Abbott — Sept. 

Belle  Epine  Dumas — Dec.,  Jan, 
Beurre  d'Anjou — Oct.,  Nov. 
Flemish  Beauty — Sept. 
Andrews — Sept. 
Kirkland's  Seckle— Sept. 
Brandy  wine — Sept. 
Steven's  Genesee— Sept. 
Doyenne  d'Alen§on — winter. 


We  think  nothing  can  be  more'  conclusive  with 
regard  to  this  question  than  the  testimony  of  various 
individuals  of  note  in  the  cultivation  of  fruit ;  among 
whom  none  rank  higher  than  MARSHALL  P.  WILDER, 
whose  views  are  expressed  in  the  following  remarks, 
given  at  length :  "  An  impression  has  extensively 
prevailed  unfavorable  to  the  cultivation  of  the  Pear 
on  the  Quince.  This  has  arisen  principally  from  an 
improper  selection  of  kinds,  or  from  injudicious  cul- 
tivation. There  are,  however,  three  considerations 
which  are  absolutely  necessary  to  success,  viz.,  a 
deep,  rich  soil,  the  planting  of  the  quince  stock 
entirely  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  a  sys- 
tematic and  scientific  course  of  pruning,  as  the  tree 
progresses  in  growth. 

"  Objections  to  this  species  of  cultivation  have  been 
made  from  the  belief  that  the  Quince  was  a  short-lived 
tree,  and  that  the  crop  must  necessarily  be  small  from 
what  are  termed  dwarf-trees.  Such,  however,  has 
not  been  my  experience.  On  the  contrary,  I  have 
pear  trees  on  the  quince  root  which  are  tiventy-five 
years  old,  and  which  produce  annually  a  barrel  or 


ADVANTAGES   OF   THE   QUINCE   AS   A   STOCK.       131 

more  of  fruit  each ;  and  for  aught  that  I  can  see,  they 
are  destined  to  survive  as  long  as  any  that  I  possess 
on  the  pear  root.  These  may,  and  probably  have,  in 
some  instances,  thrown  out  roots  from  the  pear  stock, 
but  whether  this  be  so,  or  not,  instances  are  not  rare 
where  such  trees  have  attained  in  France  the  age  of 
more  than  a  hundred  years ;  and  we  know  of  a  quince 
tree  in  Massachusetts  which  is  forty  years  old,  and 
which  has  produced  ten  bushels  of  fruit  in  a  season. 

"The  Pear,  when  grown  on  the  Quince,  should 
always  be  trained  in  the  pyramidal  form.  These  may 
be  planted  much  closer  than  when  grown  as  stan- 
dards. We  have  known  them  to  succeed  well  where 
grown  at  the  distance  of  six  feet  apart  in  the  rows, 
and  twelve  feet  between  the  rows.  In  this  way  Mr. 
KrvEKS,  the  great  English  cultivator,  planted  2,500 
of  the  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey,  and  1,500  Glout  Mor- 
ceau  for  the  London  market.  We  consider  twelve 
feet  apart,  each  way,  a  liberal  distance.  This  would 
give  302  trees  to  the  acre ;  and  we  are  clearly  of  the 
opinion,  that  soil  and  selection  of  varieties  being  right, 
no  crop  whatever  would  be  more  profitable.  Such  a 
plantation,  with  proper  care,  would  yield,  in  the  fifth 
year,  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  bushels  of 
fine  fruit.  As  to  profit,  this  will  not  appear  as  an 
exaggeration,  when  it  is  known  that  Glout  Morceau. 
pears,  a  variety  which  succeeds  admirably  on  the 
Quince,  have  sold,  during  the  winter,  readily  at  one  to 
two  dollars  per  dozen. 

"  We  name  as  varieties  which  succeed  well  on  the 
Quince  the  following,  and  to  which  might  be  added 
many  more : 


132       THE  PEAK  UPON  THE  QUINCE  STOCK. 

"Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey,  Vicar  of  Winkfield, 
Duchesse  d'Angouleme,  Glout  Morceau,  Passe  Colmar, 
Urbaniste,  Belle  et  Bonne,  Beurre  d'Anjou,  Beurre 
Diel,  Easter  Beurre,  Beurre  d'Amalis." 

Tlie  following,  from  the  same  gentleman,  in  answer 
to  the  published  skepticism  of  a  cultivator  regarding 
the  permanency  of  the  quince  stock,  effectually  dis- 
poses of  his  objections :  "  I  have,  in  my  grounds, 
many  primitive  pear  trees  from  ten  to  seventeen  feet  in 
height,  with  trunks  twenty-seven  inches  in  circumfer- 
ence, and  branching  at  the  base  from  ten  to  twelve  feet ; 
hundreds  of  these  trees  are  from  twelve  to  fifteen 
years  of  age — they  have  borne  regular  crops  from  the 
third  or  fourth  year  after  planting,  and  in  some 
instances  I  have  gathered  from  the  aforesaid  trees, 
*  not  five  or  six  beautiful  pears,'  only,  but  from  one 
bushel  to  one  barrel  per  tree.  I  do  further  aver, 
that  these  trees  were  originally  upon  the  quince 
stock — that  some  of  them  remain  in  that  condition 
now,  but  that  most  of  them  have  rooted  from  the 
pear  stock. 

"  That  there  may  be  no  misunderstanding  of  terms, 
let  it  be  remembered,  that  when  I  speak  of  dwarf 
pear  trees,  a  term  which  I  did  not  use  in  the  quota- 
tion cited,  it  is  in  contradistinction  to  those  which  are 
on  the  pear  root ;  for  we  of  Massachusetts  do  not 
allow  pear  trees,  even  those  on  the  Quince,  to  remain 
dwarfs  or  c  monkeys.'  No,  no,  Mr.  STOMS,  we  do  not 
only  make  our  pear  trees  grow,  even  on  the  Quince, 
into  beautiful,  large  pyramids,  but  we  make  them 
bear  five  to  seven,  years  earlier  on  the  quince  than 
they  would  on  the  pear  stock.  And,  a?  to  planting 


ADVANTAGES  OF  THE  QUINCE  AS  A  STOCK.    133 

deeply,  so  as  to  allow  the  pear  stock  to  root,  it  is  no 
<  new  tiling  with  the  intelligent  Colonel,'  for  he  has 
always  practiced  this  system — a  fact  well  known  to 
his  Ohio  friends,  and  to  every  one  who  has  visited  his 
grounds. 

"  Mr.  STOMS  asks  :  '  Why  graft  on  the  quince  stock 
at  all?' 

"  Answer :  To  obtain  c  early  fruiting,'  and  the 
pleasure  and  profit  of  regular  crops,  for  many  years, 
before  the  trees  would  produce  fruit  on  their  own 
stock. 

"  Again,  he  inquires  :  '  Will  the  Pear,  under  the 
circumstances  he  (Mr.  WILDER)  describes,  (that  is, 
rooting  from  the  pear  stock)  continue  to  be  a  dwarf? 

"  Answer  :  JSTo  ;  nor  do  we  desire  that  it  should  ; 
for,  having  commenced  fruiting  and  furnished  itself 
with  fruit-spurs,  it  will  continue  to  bear,  whether  on 
the  pear  or  quince  root,  or  on  both ;  and,  as  to  i  longe- 
vity,' it  is  generally  admitted  that  the  more  roots  a 
tree  has,  the  greater  will  be  its  strength,  and  the 
longer  its  duration  of  life. 

"  Hence  we  plant  the  tree  deep  enough  to  allow  it 
to  root  from  the  pear  stock,  and  thus  we  kept  the 
quince  stock  soft  and  emollient,  also,  causing  it  to 
swell  evenly  with  the  pear,  and  to  emit  roots  through- 
out its  stem,  which  it  will  do,  if  kept  below  the  sur- 
face of  the  soil. 

"  Mr.  STOMS  farther  says  :  £  When  the  friends  of 
dwarf  pear  tree  culture  shall  come  forward,  and,  with 
4  bill  of  particulars,'  show  me  an  orchard  of  five  hun- 
dred dwarf  pear  trees,  that  have  been  ten  years 


134      THE  PEAR  UPON  THE  QUINCE  STOCK. 

planted,  which  have  borne  fruit  successfully  and  paid 
cost,  I  will  give  up  the  contest.' 

"  I  will  then  take  him  to  my  neighbor,  AUSTIN'S, 
the  Treasurer  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural 
Society,  who  has  Jive  hundred  and  ten  pear  trees.  All 
these  are  on  the  quince  root,  with  the  exception  of 
one  or  two  dozen,  which  are  on  the  pear  root ;  but  as 
these  latter  have  borne  but  little  fruit,  Mr.  S.  will  not 
object  to  their  being  coifnted  in  the  lot.  These  trees 
are  from  eleven  to  thirteen  years  of  age.  One  hun- 
dred of  them  are  Louise  Ronne  de  Jerseys.  These 
trees  commenced  about  three  years  after  planting, 
have  borne  regular  and  abundant  crops  ever  since, 
and  are  now  in  a  very  vigorous  and  healthy  condition. 
~No  account  of  the  crops  were  kept  until  the  year 
1851,  but  Mr.  AUSTIN  has  kindly  furnished  me  with 
the  amount  of  his  sales  since  that  date.  The  total 
sales,  for  six  years,  were  $3,408.76.  The  original  cost 
of  these  trees  was  about  fifty  cents  each,  or  $250. 
Mr.  AUSTIN  is  a  merchant,  and  goes  to  the  city  every 
day,  and  the  only  help  he  has  had,  is.  the  service  of  a 
man  who  takes  care  of  his  stables  and  grounds.  He 
has,  however,  given  them  his  personal  attention,  and 
good  cultivation  :  but,  I  think,  without  further  estima- 
tion of  '  cost]  we  may  reasonably  conclude  that  these 
lfive  hundred  trees '  have  <  'borne  successfully,  and 
paid  cost.' 

"We  will  then   take  a  ride  over  to  the  M 
HOVEY,  where  we  shall  find  a  much  larger  number  of 
pear  trees  on  the  quince  root.    Their  beautiful  avenues 
are  lined  with  them,  some  of  which  are  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  years  of  age ;  but  as  it  will  occupy,  perhaps, 


DWARF   PEAKS.  135 

too  much  time  to  examine  all  of  them,  we  will  take 
one  walk  as  an  example.  How  delighted  Mr.  S.  must 
be  to  see  220  pear  trees,  110  on  each  side,  loaded  with 
their  luscious  fruit,  only  eight  or  nine  years  planted, 
and  all  independently  on  the  quince  root.  The  pro- 
duct of  those  trees,  in  1855,  was  twenty  barrels — in 
1856,  twenty-five  barrels.  The  highest  price  obtained 
was  twenty  dollars  per  barrel,  the  lowest  eight  dollars. 
Then  we  can  call  on  Mr.  STICKNET,  and  look  at  his 
'  dwarf*  pear  trees.  "We  shall  see  some  magnificent 
specimens  of  Urbanistes  and  Louise  Bonne  de  Jerseys. 
The  crop  of  the  latter  he  sold  the  last  season  at  ten 
dollars  per  bushel.  Then  we  will  go  to  Mr.  MAN- 
NING'S, who  has  some  pear  trees  on  the  Quince  of  very 
large  size,  being  from  thirty  to  forty  years  old,  and 
which  '  still  live,'  and  produce  annual  crops.  Then 
we  will  pursue  our  journey  on,  and  call  on  Mr.  CABOT, 
the  President  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural 
Society,  Messrs.  BACON,  DOWNEK,  RICHARDSON,  JOHN- 
SON, and  others,  who  have  splendid  collections  of 
'dwarf'  pear  trees  which  Jiave  been  'planted  ten 
years' J! 

Mr.  K.  BUIST,  of  Philadelphia,  one  of  the  most 
candid  and  reliable  men,  has  published  the  following 
on 

DWARF   PEARS. 

"  This  term  has  led  to  the  impression  that  all  trees 
are  dwarfs  that  are  grafted  on  the  quince  stock ;  we 
do  not  incline  to  this  term,  from  the  fact  that  we  cul- 
tivated dwarf  pears  before  we  knew  of  the  effects  of 
the  Pear  on  the  Quince,  and  also  from  the  fact  that  we 
now  have  very  fine  standard  trees,  with  stems  six  and 


136  THE   PEAK   UPON   THE   QUINCE   STOCK. 

seven  feet  clear,  that  are  on  the  quince  stock.  The 
Pear,  Apple,  Quince,  Hawthorn,  and  Mountain  Ash,  all 
belong  to  the  same  class  and  order,  and  will  grow  if 
grafted  on  each  other ;  they  do  not  all,  however,  assi- 
milate well  with  each  other,  for  we  find  that  there  are 
some  Apples  that  will  not  grow  on  the  Pear,  and  vice 
versa;  there  are  also  Pears,  and  not  a  few,  that  will 
not  grow  on  the  Quince ;  others  that  grow  well,  but 
their  fruits  are  inferior ;  whilst  again  many  are  greatly 
improved  on  the  Quince.  "We  now  say  that  the  Pear, 
to  be  successful  on  the  quince  stock,  must  be  very 
highly  cultivated  with  enriching  manures  of  almost 
any  description,  incorporated  with  the  surface-soil, 
and  frequently  stirred  during  the  growing  season, 
repeating  the  enriching  material,  and  thorough  culture, 
every  season.  They  can  be  planted  from  ten  to  fifteen 
feet  apart,  and  will,  with  such  treatment,  give  a  very 
abundant  crop,  even  a  bushel  from  a  tree  only  a  few 
years  planted.  This  is  not,  however,  the  only  atten- 
tion they  require — they  must  have  a  summer  pruning 
and  a  winter  pruning,  which  you  shall  have  in  another 
chapter. 

Again,  the  quince  stock  is  a  very  general  term ; 
there  is  a  vast  difference  in  the  kind  of  Quince,  and 
it  is  now  very  strange  that  all  the  pears  on  the  Quince, 
whether  worked  thereon  the  past  year  or  ten  years, 
are  on  what  has  recently  been  called  to  the  peculiar 
benefit  of  some,  the  Angers  Quince.  Certain  it  is, 
that  there  is  a  variety  aptly  adapted  to  the  vigor  of 
the  Pear,  more  generally  known  to  the  experienced 
eye  by  its  growth  as  that  variety ;  and  we  think  it  is 
the  variety  only  that  demands  particular  notice.  The 


DWAKF    PEAKS.  137 

growth  is  clean  and  luxuriant,  bark  smooth  and  free, 
making  shoots  six  feet  high  in  a  season,  readily  pro- 
pagated from  cuttings,  and  even  budded  the  first 
season. 

Every  cutting,  therefore,  of  that  variety,  should 
be  carefully  planted,  on  which  you  may  grow  either 
dwarf  or  standards-)  with  this  result  that  the  sorts  of 
Pear  worked  thereon  will  come  into  bearing  in  two 
or  three  years,  and  continue  productive  for  many 
years,  say  half  a  century,  and  be  more  ivQQfrom  blight 
than  if  on  the  pear  stock,  wThich  roots  deep,  descends 
into  the  cold  ground  perpendicularly,  predisposes  the 
tree  to  blight  during  summer,  and  if  not  blight,  pro 
duces  a  redundancy  of  wood  almost  beyond  practical 
management,  and  not  at  all  adapted  for  gardens. 
Another  point  in  favor  of  the  quince  stock  I  might 
refer  to,  is  the  certainty  of  its  growth  after  being  re- 
moved and  conveyed  to  a  distance,  the  many  fibres 
close  to  the  bole  of  the  tree  rendering  its  growth 
almost  certain,  at  least,  forty-nine  out  of  fifty.  The 
Pear  on  its  own  stock  makes  few  fibres,  and  is  more 
precarious  in  removal  and  carriage ;  this  is  again  par- 
tially under  control  by  frequent  removals  in  the  nur- 
sery, when  the  trees  are  young,  which  checks  their 
growth  of  wood,  produces  early  fruiting  properties, 
so  that  we  hope  to  live  to  see  dwarf  fruiting  pears  on 
the  pear  stock  as  eagerly  sought  for  as  those  now  on 
the  Angers  Quince — you  will  please  make  a  note  of 
this  assertion." 

The  following  from  Mr.  HOVEY,  author  of  "  Fruits 
of  America,"  will  be  of  interest  to  pomologists: 
"  The  cultivation  of  the  Pear  on  the  Quince  is  of  such 


138      THE  PEAK  UPON  THE  QUINCE  STOCK. 

• 

an  ancient  date,  and  has  been  so  long  and  so  suc- 
cessfully practiced  in  that  great  pear-growing  country, 
France,  that  it  appears  somewhat  absurd  to  see  it 
attacked  at  this  late  day,  as  it  has  been  by  individuals 
who,  either  from  want  of  experience  or  other  causes, 
have  not  succeeded  well  in  its  cultivation  on  this 
stock,  and  hence  would  deny  to  a  great  portion  of  our 
community,  for  a  series  of  years,  so  delicious  a  fruit 
as  the  Pear ;  for  in  no  way  can  it  be  obtained  in  any 
abundance,  for  half  a  generation  after  planting,  except 
upon  the  Quince. 

An  intelligent  correspondent  has  shown  the  fal- 
lacy of  the  arguments  made  use  of  to  disparage  the 
quince  stock,  and  it  would  be  useless  to  go  over  the 
ground  again.  As  he  has  truly  said :  "  Let  gentlemen 
botanists  have  their  own  way  in  disputing.  On  we 
shall  go,  reaping  an  abundance  of  fruit  while  they 
are  cavilling  in  regard  to  a  fact  long  ago  established 
by  the  experience  of  men,  not  mere  tyros  in  the  work, 
but  those  who  have  made  the  question  a  study  for  life." 

RULES  FOR  GROWING  THE  PEAR  ON  THE  QUINCE. 

From  these  just  and  lucid  statements  of  distin 
guished  horticulturists,  it  is  easy  to  learn  that  the 
requisites  for  successfully  cultivating  the  Pear  on  the 
Quince  are  : 

1.  That  the  pear  should  be  budded  on  the  Angers 
Quince,  a  free-growing  variety — a  tree  rather  than  ;i 
shrub,  like  the  Portugal  Quince.  Several  specimens 
of  this  variety,  on  my  grounds,  have  grown,  in  two 
seasons,  seven  feet  in  height,  and  one  inch  and  a 
quarter  in  diameter. 


BOOTING   OF  THE  PEAJt.  139 

2.  That  only  the  right  kinds  of  Pear  should  be  grown 
on  the  Quince. 

3.  That  the  Quince  should  be  considered  in  this 
compound  tree,  only  as  a  root,  and  never  as  a  trunk 
or  stem ;  and,  therefore,  should  be  planted  entirely 
below  the  soil. 

4.  That  the  tree   should  be  trained  low,  in  the 
pyramid  shape. 

5.  That  weeds  and  grass,  and,  of  course,  the  grains, 
must  not  be  permitted  to  grow  among  the  trees — • 
as  they  would  interfere  with  the  development  of  the 
lower  limbs,  and  abstract  the  nourishment  that  should 
go  to  the  tree. 

6.  That  the  soil  should  be  kept  in  good  condition, 
well  manured,  well  cultivated,  and  dry. 

The  violation  of  these  rules  has,  without  doubt, 
been  the  cause  of  all  the  failures  of  the  Pear  on  the 
Quince. 

ROOTING-   OF  THE   PEAR   ON   QUINCE   STOCKS. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  induce  the  Pear  to  form  roots 
from  cuttings  or  layers,  under  the  ordinary  circum- 
stances attending  such  propagation.  Most  varieties 
of  the  Pear,  however,  when  budded  on  the  Quince, 
and  planted  with  the  junction  from  two  to  four  inches 
below  the  surface,  exhibit  a  great  tendency  to  throw 
out  roots  from  the  pear  wood  above  the  junction. 

MR.  WILDER,  and  some  other  horticulturists,  believe 
this  to  indicate  a  natural  repugnance  in  those  varieties 
to  the  Quince ;  but  my  own  experience  does  not  confirm 
this.  Of  a  considerable  number  of  Bartletts  removed 
after  being  three  years  planted  in  the  fruit-ground, 


14:0  THE   PEAK    TTPOX   THE   QUINCE    STOCK. 

not  more  than  half  a  dozen  had  rooted,  and  these 
very  feebly ;  while  it  is  well  known  that  this  variety 
succeeds  only  indifferently  upon  the  Quince.  Other 
facts,  however,  do  tend  to  confirm  this  theory.  I  have 
seldom  found  the  Duchesse  exhibiting  any  tendency 
to  throw  out  roots.  While  of  several  hundred  of 
other  varieties,  five  or  six  years  old,  removed  at  the 
same  time  with  the  Bartletts  above-mentioned,  more 
than  half  had  rooted  from  the  pear  wood,  and  the 
character  of  the  roots  was  somewhat  striking.  When 
a  wild  or  seedling  pear  is  budded  and  planted  in  the 
fruit  grounds,  its  tendency  to  form  long,  straggling 
roots,  almost  destitute  of  fibres,  unless  root-pruned  or 
retransplanted,  is  well-known ;  but  every  one  of  the 
roots  from  the  pear  wood  above  the  quince  stock  of 
these  trees,  was  provided  with  such  masses  of  fibres, 
that  it  was  nearly  impossible  to  free  them  from  the 
adhering  soil.  Remarkable  as  is  this  faculty  of  fibrous 
rooting  of  the  Quince,  it  is  much  more  surprising  in 
the  Pear,  when  grown  on  the  quince  stock.  Many 
roots,  three  or  four  feet  long  will  be  found,  fringed 
with  fibres  throughout  their  entire  length,  and  in  such 
masses  as  to  render  it  necessary  to  greatly  thin  them, 
when  reset  in  the  ground,  to  allow  them  to  be  sepa- 
rated by  particles  of  soil.  In  some  cases,  I  have  found 
the  quince  root  entirely  superseded  and  cast  off.  In 
others,  the  double  root  seemed  to  be  in  perfect  har- 
mony, and  botli  parts  thrifty  and  vigorous.  In  most 
cases  the  pear  root  hud  been  formed  on  one  side  of 
the  tree,  and  rapidly  radiating  and  swelling  at  the 
junction,  had  usurped  the  entire  ground,  and  held  the 
tree  firmly  and  strongly  in  the  soil.  To  test  the  fact 


ROOTING   OF   THE   PEAR.  141 

of  the  rooting  of  the  Pear  above  the  Quince,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  seize  the  tree  by  the  body  three  or  four 
feet  above  the  ground,  and  shake  it  slowly,  and  if 
pear-rooted,  the  superior  firmness  will  be  readily  per- 
ceived. The  wood-growth  and  foliage  of  all  trees, 
throwing  out  roots  above  the  quince  stock,  will  be 
found  to  be  more  vigorous,  but  the  production  of  fruit 
will  be  considerably  delayed.  If  a  strong,  vigorous 
shoot  or  sucker  grows  up  from  near  the  ground,  or  if 
the  branches  are  much  more  strongly  developed  on 
one  side,  it  is  quite  certain  that  the  Pear  has  rooted. 
I  am  often  asked,  if  the  tree  roots  from  the  Pear,  what 
advantage  is  gained  by  growing  upon  the  Quince  ? 

This  query  may  be  answered  by  a  statement  of  the 
following  facts : 

First.  Many  of  the  varieties  budded  on  the  Quince 
do  not  obtain  pear  roots  sufficient  to  support  the 
tree  before  the  sixth  or  eighth  year,  and  the  trees, 
in  the  mean  time,  have  borne  fruit  three  or  four 
years,  while  if  budded  on  the  pear  stock,  few  of  them 
would  have  yielded  fruit  in  less  than  eight  or  twelve 
years. 

Second.  The  greater  vitality  of  the  Quince  root  has 
preserved  life  in  a  large  per-centage  of  the  trees, 
which,  under  ordinary  care,  would  have  perished  if 
budded  on  pear  roots.  The  ratio  of  loss  by  trans- 
planting healthy  trees  on  quince  roots,  with  but 
moderate  care,  is  not  more  than  one  per  cent,  while 
that  of  pear  trees  on  pear  roots,  is  much  greater. 
After  the  pear  roots  form  above  the  Quince,  the  tree 
is  (from  causes  which  will  be  hereafter  investigated)  so 
much  better  furnished  with  fibres,  that  it  will  endure 


142       THE  PEAR  UPON  THE  QUINCE  STOCK. 

transplanting  and  root  pruning  better,  and  also  con- 
tinue much  longer  its  growth  and  fruiting. 

Third.  The  quince  root  has  so  governed  the  growth 
of  the  tree,  that  it  is  much  less  difficult  to  reduce  it 
to  pyramidal  shape  ;  for  it  has  been  proved  by  expe- 
rience, that  the  character  of  the  roots  determines  that 
of  the  top.  Long,  straggling  roots,  not  provided  with 
fibres,  are  productive  of  long,  vigorous,  and  unmanage- 
able shoots,  destitute  of  lateral  branches.  A  long 
tap-root  sends  up  a  vigorous  leader,  while  the  fibrous 
quince  roots  provide  the  tree  with  fruit-spurs  and 
short,  stout  branches.  The  Pear  on  a  pear  stock  is 
not  easily  reduced  to  a  pyramidal  shape  after  the 
first  year,  without  root  pruning,  for  when  the  leader 
is  pruned,  the  terminal  bud  shoots  with  great  vigor, 
and  another  leader  is  formed  while  the  lower  branches 
continue  weak  and  feeble. 

Fourth.  Most  of  the  varieties  which  are  superior 
in  size  and  flavor  on  the  Quince,  or  which  unite  firmly 
with  it,  and  prove  well  adapted  to  it,  as  the  Duchesse 
d'Angouleme  and  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey,  seldom 
throw  out  roots  from  the  pear  wood-  In  those 
varieties  which  throw  out  pear  roots,  it  has  been 
seen  that  the  latter  are  more  fibrous  than  upon 
seedlings.  This  is,  doubtless,  the  result  of  the  more 
refined  and  cultivated  condition  of  the  grafted  wood, 
which,  instead  of  the  rank  characteristic  of  a  seedling, 
makes  the  clean,  stocky  shoots  of  a  more  highly 
developed  tree.  So  the  finer  varieties  of  pears, 
instead  of  the  long  naked  roots  of  the  wildling,  pro- 
vide themselves  with  fibrous  radicles  better  fitted  to 
furnish  them  their  proper  food. 


HOW   TO   PRODUCE  PEAR  ROOTING.  143 

This  fact  has  tended  to  confirm  horticulturists  in 
the  belief  in  the  necesity  of  an  adaptation  of  the 
graft  to  the  stock.  If  this  theory  is  correct,  what 
roots  can  be  better  adapted  to  the  demands  of  the 
graft  than  those  put  forth  by  the  graft  itself.  From 
these  facts,  it  may  be  seen  that  if  any  pear-grower  is 
deficient  in  faith  in  the  durability  of  quince  stocks, 
he  can  insure  the  longevity  of  his  trees  by  planting 
them  sufficiently  deep  to  produce  pear  roots. 

HOW  TO  PRODUCE  PEAR  ROOTING. 

When  the  leaves  ripen  in  early  September,  the  sap 
has  assumed  that  albuminous  and  ripened  condition 
which  fits  it  for  forming  new  spongioles  and  root- 
lets. If,  prior  to  this  condition,  several  incisions  are 
made  in  the  pear  bark  and  wood,  just  at  the  swell- 
ing of  the  graft,  by  pushing  a  small  gouge  upwards, 
so  as  to  form  tongues  or  strips  an  inch  long,  hang- 
ing by  their  upper  ends ;  the  sap,  checked  in  its 
downward  flow,  will  soon  cover  the  incision  with 
a  soft,  white,  albuminous  substance,  which,  if  well 
covered  with  firmly  packed  earth,  will  soon  form  root- 
lets, that,  before  the  ensuing  winter,  will  be  in  a 
vigorous  condition.  It  is  well  to  place  a  small  pebble 
between  the  tongue  and  trunk  to  prevent  adhesion. 
The  production  of  these  roots  is  due  to  the  same  influ- 
ence which  causes  the  union  of  the  bud  with  the 
stock  when  inserted  at  the  same  season.  The  sap,  in 
its  downward  flow,  depositing  the  mucus  that  would 
have  hardened  into  bark  and  wood,  is,  by  the  check, 
diverted  to  the  formation  of  rootlets  and  fibres  which 
will,  the  next  year,  provide  food  for  growth  or  fruit. 


144      THE  PEAR  UPON  THE  QUINCE  STOCK. 

It  does  not  seem  to  have  been  considered  by  horticul- 
turists, that  the  absorbing  powers  are  not  retained  by 
spongioles  and  rootlets  much  longer  than  a  single 
season,  and  that  they  need  constant  renewal.  When 
the  hardening  of  these  spongioles  takes  place,  they 
are  no  longer  capable  of  affording  a  supply  of  nutri- 
ment proportionate  to  the  wants  of  the  tree.  Most 
tree  culturists  will  have  noticed  that  the  fibres  and 
spongioles  are  not  found  on  the  larger  and  older  roots, 
but  that,  having  fulfilled  their  office,  they  decay,  as 
Nature  never  supports  useless  organs. 

What  will  be  the  effect  of  pear-rooting  upon  those 
varieties  that  are  so  much  superior  upon  the  Quince, 
must  be  determined  by  more  experience  than  we 
possess  at  present.  There  is  but  little  doubt,  however, 
that  the  pear-rooting  of  such  varieties  as  are  gritty  or 
astringent  on  pear  stocks  is  to  be  avoided. 

The  Duchesse  d'Angouleme,  which  is  not  often  first- 
rate  on  pear  roots,  because  of  its  hard  lumpy  flesh  and 
gritty  core,  and  the  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey  and  Beurre' 
Diel,  which  are  often  astringent  and  bitter,  011  the 
same  stock,  can  hardly  be  allowed  to  root  from  the 
pear  wood.  This  may  be  prevented  when  necessary, 
by  planting  more  shallow,  leaving  the  pear-wood  but 
little  below  the  surface. 

DOUBLE  WORKING. 

It  is  often  desirable  to  improve  the  texture  and 
flavor  of  some  varieties  of  pears,  by  growing  them 
upon  the  Quince,  although  they  have  proved  iinadapted 
to  it.  The  desired  effect  is  obtained  by  double  work- 
ing— as  it  is  the  roots,  the  providers  of  nourishment, 


DOUBLE  WORKING.  145 

that  govern  to  a  great  extent  these  characteristics  in  the 
fruit.  Any  free-growing  varieties  may  be  budded  on 
the  Quince,  for  the  purpose  of  double  working,  although 
some  care  should  be  taken  to  obtain  such  as  harmon- 
ize with  the  Quince.  The  Yirgalieu  and  the  Buffam 
are  the  best,  although  not  the  most  vigorous  growers ; 
yet  most  pears  grow  well,  when  propagated  upon 
them. 

The  Beurre  d'Amalis  and  Soldat  Laboureur,  are 
very  vigorous  growers,  and  make  good  stocks  for 
double  working.  There  are  such  obvious  advantages 
in  double  working,  that  it  seems  almost  superfluous 
to  mention  them,  yet  that  nothing  may  be  omitted  to 
secure  success,  we  present  them  in  a  concise  form : 

1.  Pears  that  refuse  to  grow,  or  grow  but  feebly, 
or  are  short-lived  upon  the  Quince,  but  are  coarse, 
gritty,  or  small  sized,  when  grown  upon  the  pear 
stock,  like  the  Beurre  d'Aremberg,  often  become  first- 
rate  by  double  working. 

2.  Varieties  that  are  so  tardy  in  bearing  upon  the 
pear  stock  as  to  exhaust  the  patience  and  faith  of  the 
grower,  yet  will   not   harmonize  directly  with   the 
Quince,  will,  by  double  working,  come  early  into  bear- 
ing.    The  Dix  and  Seckel  are  examples  of  this. 

3.  Grafting,  which  cannot  be  practiced  with  suc- 
cess directly  on  the  Quince,  may  be  performed  on  the 
Pear  portion  of  the  stock. 

4.  Some  varieties  that  bear  quite  early  on  the  pear 
stock,  but  are  of  comparatively  slow  growth,  are  pro- 
duced in  greater  vigor  upon  the  double  stock,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  increased  vigor  acquired  from  the 
strong  growing  variety  first  worked  upon  the  Quince. 

7 


146  THE   PEAR   UPON   THE   QUINCE   STOCK. 


VARIETIES   FOR  DOUBLE  WORKING. 

The  following  varieties,  which  have  proved  averse 
to  the  Quince,  will,  by  double  working,  bear  fruit 
improved  in  texture,  size,  and  flavor : 

JSeurre  cPAremberg — coarse,  woody,  and  gritty,  on 
pear  roots,  and  a  feeble,  diseased  grower,  directly  on 
the  Quince. 

Napoleon — often  scarred  and  spotted  on  the  Pear, 
but  frequently  handsome  and  smooth  upon  a  double- 
worked  tree. 

Bartlett — although  fine  when  grown  on  the  pear 
stock,  is  much  improved  on  the  Quince. 

JBeurre  Clairgeau — coarse  on  pear  roots,  somewhat 
averse  to  the  Quince,  but  nearly  first-rate  upon  double- 
worked  trees. 

The  following  varieties,  that  are  tardy  in  bearing, 
are  but  moderately  improved  by  the  Quince  in  quality, 
and  are  propagated  with  difficulty  upon  that  stock, 
but  may  be  profitably  grown  by  double  working : 

Beurre  Bosc,  Dix,  Seckel,  Tyson,  Andrews,  Fulton, 
Lawrence,  Winter  Nelis,  Marie  Louise,  Beurre  Kance, 
St.  Michael  Archange,  Columbia. 


PAET  Y.— 


ADVANTAGES   OF  A  PYRAMIDAL  FOEM  FOE   PEAE  TEEE8, 
BOTH   ON   QUINCE   AND   PEAE   STOCKS. 

THE  advantages  which  seem  to  be  gained  by  a 
pyramidal  growth  in  the  pear  tree,  more  especially, 
are: 

1.  There  is  no  violent  interference  with  the  natural 
structure  of  the  tree,  but  we  rather  aid  it  to  attain 
this  form  more  perfectly  ;   that  is,  we   do   not  by 
crowding  it  in  the  nursery  rows,  or  by  cutting  with 
the  pruning-knife,  deprive  it  of  the  natural  formation 
of  low  branches.     To  cut  any  portion  of  the  wood,  of 
more  than  one  year  old,  is  to  interfere  more  or  less 
seriously   with   the   organism  of  the  tree;   and  the 
occasion  for  it  arises  from  neglect  to  prune  at  the 
proper  time.    To  prevent  malformation  is  better  than 
to  amputate  ;  and  to  form  a  tree  properly,  we  must 
begin  with  the  maiden  plant. 

2.  Low-branched  pyramids  come  into  bearing  much 
sooner  than  trees  with  long  trunks.     The  Pear,  on  its 
own  stock,  trained  as  a  standard,  varies  with  the  kind, 
from  eight  to  twenty  years,  in  producing  fruit  ;  but, 
trained  as  a  pyramid,  its  period  of  fruit-bearing  is 
lessened  from  four  to  twelve  years.     The  Seckel  and 


148  PRUNING, 

Urbaniste,  upon  pear  stock,  and  with  naked  trunks, 
of  five  or  six  feet,  are  not  unfrequently  fifteen  years 
producing  their  first  fruit.  "With  low-trained  pyra- 
mids, and  a  slight  attention  to  summer  pruning  or 
pinching,  this  tedious  and  discouraging  delay  is  most 
certainly  shortened  to  six  or  eight  years.  The  cause 
of  this  precocity  is,  that  the  sap,  checked  by  the  sum- 
mer pinching  in  its  flow  to  the  terminal  bad,  is  dis 
tributed  to  the  wood-buds  below,  and  sufficient  nutri 
ment  is  received  to  mature  them  into  fruit-buds. 

A  certain  age  of  bark  and  cellular  woody  formation 
of  a  branch  is  necessary  before  it  will  cause  the  sap 
to  flow  slowly  enough  to  concentrate  into  fruit-juice. 
Now,  if  the  earlier  branches,  formed  near  the  ground, 
and  then,  in  succession,  those  above,  are  cut  away, 
until  a  naked  trunk  is  formed,  it  is  evident  we  pro* 
tract  the  fruit-bearing  period.  Besides,  the  pruning 
away  of  so  much  wood  forces  an  over-abundance  of 
sap  to  the  terminal  buds,  and  its  energies  are  spent  in 
wood-growth,  at  the  expense  of  fruit-bud  formation. 
When,  however,  branches  start  from  or  near  the 
ground,  having  the  same  age  with  the  trunk,  fruit- 
buds  are  formed  long  before  they  could  have  been  on 
long-trunk  trees ;  the  sap  is  more  evenly  distributed, 
wood-growth  is  moderately  checked,  and  the  culti- 
vator's eye  is  early  gladdened  with  golden  fruit. 

3.  The  size  and  quality  of  fruit  is  much  increased 
by  this  method  of  training.  It  has  long  been  known, 
that  young  trees  produce  larger  fruit,  but  deficient  in 
flavor ;  old  trees  produce  fruit  of  superior  taste,  but 
inferior  in  size.  In  the  pyramid,  we  are  able  to  secure 
these  excellences,  and  rid  ourselves  of  the  faults.  In 


PKTOHNG.  149 

the  low,  compact  form,  when  an  excessive  quantity 
of  fruit  has  set,  it  becomes  an  easy  task  to  thin  out 
the  overplus,  and  concentrate  the  sap  in  that  number 
which  can  be  perfectly  matured. 

4.  A  much  larger  number  can  be  planted  on  a 
given  area.     Instead  of  forty  pear  trees,  planted  at 
forty  feet  apart,  two  hundred  to  four  hundred  may, 
for  many  years,  occupy  the  same  area,  and  yield  their 
fruit  to  a  whole  generation  without  crowding.     It  is 
much  easier  to  cut  down  a  fruit  tree  that  cost  a  few 
shillings,  than  it  is  to  obtain  it  with  fifteen  years'  ad- 
ditional growth  for  ten  dollars.     Many  a  man  would 
hesitate  to  plant  ten  acres  with  four  hundred  pear 
trees,  even  when  by  pyramidal  growth  he  could  obtain 
a  bushel  from  each,  at  six  to  eight  years  of  age,  who 
would  gladly  cover  one  acre  with  the  same  number, 
could  he  be  assured  that  they  would  fruit  equally  well. 

5.  Pyramidal  trees,  by  their   comparatively  low 
stature,  are  protected  from  high  winds,  and  often  pre- 
serve their  fruit  when  the  tall  tree  has  lost  a  large 
portion  of  the  crop  :  their  limbs  are  much  less  ex- 
posed to  being  broken  by  storms,  or  borne  down  by 
weight  of  fruit — whose  power  is  mvich  increased  by 
growing  at  the  end  of  a  long  branch,  which  acts  as  a 
lever. 

6.  Pyramidal  trees   are   less   liable  to  wrenching 
from  the  perpendicular,  turning  over  by  the  roots,  or 
breaking  off:    having    their  widest  diameter  at  or 
near  the  ground,  they  offer  little  resistance  to  the 
wind ;  and  never  exhibit  the  distorted,  leaning  atti- 
tudes that  characterize  thousands  of  orchards. 

7.  The  trunk  is  protected  by  the  foliage  from  the 


150 


PRUNING. 


parching  sun-rays,  and  the  sap  reaches  its  destination 
just  in  the  condition  Nature  provided  it  in  the  roots, 
without  travelling  an  unnecessary  distance. 

PRUNING   TO   FORM   PYRAMIDS. 

It  is  with  considerable  difficulty  that  trees  in  the 
usual  condition  in  which  they  are  received  from  the 
nursery  are  reduced  to  a  pyramidal  form,  branching 
from  near  the  ground.  If  two  years  old  from  the  bud, 


Fig.  88. 


Fig.  84. 


and  lateral  branches  should  have  formed,  the  ruthless 
knife  of  the  .nurseryman  has  pruned  them  away. 
Figs.  33  and  34  are  specimens  of  trees  where  some 
feeble  attempts  have  been  made  for  the  production 
of  a  pyramid.  The  lower  cross  linos  in  Fig.  34  indi- 
cate the  vicious  pruning  such  a  tree  would  usually 


PRUNING   TO  FORM  PYRAMIDS.  151 

receive.  The  other  lines  show  the  points  at  which 
the  limbs  and  trunk  should  be  shortened. 

Having  shortened  the  tree  shown  in  Fig.  33,  at  A, 
the  next  effort  of  Nature  is  to  effect  an  aeration  of  the 
sap  produced  in  the  roots,  and  as  there  are  but  few 
buds  to  expand  into  leaves,  a  large  amount  of  sap  is 
thrown  upon  these  few. 

The  difficulties  in  forming  pyramids  from  such 
trees  are  numerous.  Unless  the  tree  has  been  root- 
pruned,  or  recently  transplanted,  an  effect  of  this 
severe  shortening,  called  by  horticulturists  suffocation, 
ensues,  and  a  sickly  growth  of  small  shoots  is  the 
result.  Not  unfrequently,  several  shoots  start  from 
near  the  amputation  in  a  bushy  cluster,  or  a  gour- 
mand or  two  obstinately  shoots  up,  absorbing  all  the 
sap.  It  will  now  become  more  and  more  difficult  to 
draw  out  the  buds  below,  and,  after  the  bark  is  two 
years  old,  almost  impossible. 

Under  this  treatment,  we  must  thus  commence  our 
pyramid  with  a  raw  amputation,  that  will  exhibit  for 
years  an  ungainly  scar,  but  there  is  nothing  less  severe 
to  be  done  until  we  have  better-formed  nursery  trees, 
and  can  remedy  some  of  these  evils,  by  commencing 
the  process  in  the  first  season,  as  shown  at  Fig.  35, 
which  has  been  already  explained  on  page  99. 

If  the  tree  shown  at  Fig.  33  is  planted  iii  the  same 
season  of  its  shortening,  but  little  growth,  of  course, 
will  be  produced  during  the  first  year,  but  if  per- 
fectly successful  in  avoiding  all  the  mishaps  noted,  it 
will,  at  the  end  of  the  second  year,  exhibit  somewhat 
the  appearance  of  Fig.  36.  If  more  shoots  should 
have  been  produced  than  necessary,  they  must  be 


152 


PRUNING. 


thinned  so  as  to  leave  the  remaining  ones  well  bal- 
anced around  the  stem.     Select  one  for  a  leader,  that 


Fig.  85. 


Fig.  86. 


as  nearly  as  possible  occupies  the  centre  of  the  group, 
and  starts  near  the  top.  All  the  shoots  ought  now  to 
be  shortened  in  such  a  manner  as  to  induce  a  cone 
shape  to  the  tree.  To  effect  this,  the  lower  ones 
should  be  cut  back  to  six  or  eight  inches,  the  next 
reduced  two  inches  more,  and  the  next  still  more, 
until,  as  we  approach  the  leader,  the  side  shoots  must 
be  shortened  to  two  or  three  buds.  From  this  time, 
with  proper  attention  to  summer  pinching,  pruning 
might  be  almost  entirely  dispensed  with;  but  as  few 
persons  will  or  can  bestow  the  requisite  labor,  we 
shall  still  adapt  the  instructions  to  the  ordinary  con- 
dition of  trees. 


PRUNING  TO    FORM   PYRAMIDS. 


153 


By  attention  to  former  suggestions,  the  tree,  at  the 
end  of  the  third  summer,  may  be  expected  to  appear 
as  in  Fig.  37,  and  from  this  time,  the  progress  of  the 
tree  in  growth  and  shape  is  much  more  rapid.  The 
trees  exhibited  at  Figs.  37  and  38  are  often  exceeded 
in  size  by  such  as  have  been  planted  a  year  less,  but 
they  are  much  oftener  not  equalled  in  this  respect  by 
trees  planted  four  or  five  years. 


Fig.  87. 


Fig.  88. 


154 

When  the  pyra- 
midal shape  has  be- 
come established,  as 
in  Fig.  38,  the  prun- 
ing is  performed 
more  directly  with 
the  intention  of  in- 
ducing the  forma- 
tion of  fruit-buds, 
but  the  preservation 
of  the  shape  must 
still  be  kept  in  view. 
The  line  AB  in  Fig- 
ure 38  indicates  the 
place  at  which  the 
branches  should  be 
shortened. 

Fig.  39  is  a  well- 
balanced  pyramidal 
Urbaniste,  ten  or 
twelve  years  old. 
The  characteristic 
growth  of  this  vari- 
ety may  be  observed 
in  its  too  numerous 
branches.  It  can- 
not, however,  be 
thinned  to  the  ex- 
tent needed  by  other 
varieties  without  de- 
laying its  fruiting, 
on  account  of  its 
great  tendency  to 
wood-growth. 


PRUNING. 


Fig.  89. 


PRUNING   TO   FORM   PYRAMIDS.  155 

Although,  the  pyramidal  form  has  become  estab- 
lished, this  tree  would  soon  grow  out  of  balance  if 
neglected.  It  will  require  annual  pinching  and  sum- 
mer checking  of  the  leading  shoots  not  only  for  the 
purpose  of  restraining  them,  but  to  preserve  the 
development  of  the  lower  branches. 

From  neglect  or  bad  pruning,  it  is  not  unfrequent 
that  trees  acquire  a  growth  similar  to  Fig.  40,  which 
is  a  portrait  of  a  tree  in  my  own  grounds.  In  its  first 
pruning,  the  stem  was  left  too  high,  and,  in  conse- 
quence, a  long  space  has  occurred  at  A  and  B,  free 
from  radial  branches.  After  some  subsequent  prun- 
ing, a  gourmand,  indicated  by  C,  has  pushed  out 
from  near  the  collar. 

Another  error  in  pruning  is  shown  at  D,  where  a 
cut  was  made  too  far  above  the  bud,  or  the  branch. 
The  highest  shoot  in  this  tree  has  abdicated  the 
leadership,  and  a  strong  rival  has  pushed  up  from 
below  it.  Some  of  the  methods  of  remedying  the 
numerous  evils  in  the  condition  of  this  tree,  without 
shortening  it  back  so  severely  as  to  lose  three  or  four 
years  in  its  fruiting,  will  be  noticed.  To  cover  the 
naked  space  on  the  stem,  the  shoots  A  and  B,  Fig.  40, 
may  be  ingrafted  by  cutting  them  to  a  wedge  shape, 
at  A  and  B,  and  fitting  them  into  a  notch  in  the  stem, 
made  with  a  chisel,  or  by  removing  small  sections  of 
bark  from  both  the  stem  and  the  shoot,  and  binding 
the  two  firmly  in  contact.  The  gourmand  may  be 
used,  for  ingrafting  upon  the  trunk,  at  G,  but  when 
not  used  as  a  graft,  it  should  be  cut  at  F,  in  order  to 
conceal  the  trunk  with  foliage.  The  branch  and  part 
of  the  stem,  at  D,  should  be  entirely  removed,  in  order 


156 


PRUNING. 


to  allow  E  to  become  the  leader.  All  the  branches 
should  be  shortened,  the  upper  to  three  or  four  inches, 
and  the  lower  to  six  or  eight,  and  the  leader  to  ten  or 
twelve.  Pig.  41,  represents,  at  A  and  B,  the  incisions 
which  are  made  above  a  weak  bud,  or  shoot,  to  check 


Fig.  40. 


Fig.  41. 


the  flow  of  sap,  and  force  it  to  their  development, 
C  is  the  incision  made  below  a  strong  shoot  to  check 
its  growth. 

It  is  important  in  pruning,  to  cut  so  near  a  bud  that' 


PRUNING    TO   FORM   PYRAMIDS.  157 

the  wound  will  be  within  the  influence  of  the  sap, 
elaborated  by  the  leaves  formed  from  that  bud.  If 
cut  as  in  Fig.  42,  the  wood  above  the  bud  being  beyond 
the  flow  of  sap,  usually  dies,  and  produces  a  bad  effect. 
The  cut  in  Fig.  43  is  made  so  low  as  to  endanger  the 
life  of  the  bud,  and  effect  the  same  bad  result,  as  in 
cutting  too  high.  The  true  rule  for  cutting  a  bud  is, 
to  make  the  slope  reach  no  lower  than  the  bottom  of 
the  bud,  and  high  enough  on  the  side  of  the  shoot 
nearest  the  bud  to  clear  the  top  of  the  latter.  Fig.  44 
represents  the  true  cut. 


Fig.  42.  Pig.  43.  Fig.  44. 


An  irregular  form  of  trees  growing  on  quince  roots, 
and  resulting  from  overfruiting,  is  exhibited  by  Fig. 
45.  The  check  to  wood-growth,  caused  by  the  early 
fruitfulness  of  the  tree,  resulted  in  the  change  of  most 
of  the  buds  to  fruit-buds.  When  a  period  of  rest  from 
fruiting  occurred,  and  the  tree  had  acquired  strength 
for  further  growth,  this  was  all  produced  at  the  top 
of  the  tree,  and  thus  its  balance  destroyed.  To 
remedy  this,  the  tree  may  be  either  shortened  at  the 
point  indicated  by  the  long  lines,  or  the  limbs  pruned 
at  the  small  cross  lines,  and  the  lower  part  kept  from 
fruiting  for  a  year  or  two.  Combined  with  summer 


158 


PRUNING. 


Fig.  45. 


pinching  of  the  t  jp  shoots,  this  last  method  will  restore 
the  shape  without  losing  the  growth  of  two  or  three 
years. 

I  am  often  pained  at 
being  obliged  to  cut 
away  half  a  dozen  luxu- 
riant shoots,  three  to  five 
feet  in  length,  the  growth 
of  the  preceding  sum- 
mer, upon  a  tree,  which, 
by  their  production,  was 
thrown  entirely  out  of 
balance.  But  most  two- 
year-old  trees,  if  previ- 
ously neglected,  prove 
too  obstinate  in  their  ac- 
quired habit  of  growth, 
to  form  easily  into  pyr- 
amidal shape.  The  bark 
has  become  too  old  for 
buds  to  break  from,with- 
out  cutting  so  low  down 
that  one  may  almost 
as  well  begin  with  bud- 
ding the  stock,  thus  go- 
ing back  to  the  very  foundation  of  nursery  treatment. 

As  the  fruit-raiser  may  save  several  years'  labor 
and  delay  by  selecting  large  trees,  it  will  be  seen 
that  it  is  of  considerable  importance  to  obtain  those 
that  have  received  proper  care  in  the  proper  time. 
When  well-shaped  trees,  two  to  four  years  old, 
cannot  be  procured,  it  is  better  to  select  maiden 


SUMMER   PINCHING.  159 

plants,  or  those  of  a  single  season's  growth,  as  shown 
in  Fig.  29. 

SUMMER   PINCHING. 

This  process  consists  in  checking  the  growing  shoot 
during  summer,  either  by  the  thumb  and  finger  or  the 
knife.  Sometimes  the  soft  terminal  tuft  of  leaves 
is  pinched  entirely  off,  sometimes  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  the  shoot  is  cut  away,  and  occasionally  they 
are  simply  fractured,  and  left  hanging. 

This  labor  may  be  performed  from  the  first  break- 
ing of  the  bud  to  the  middle  of  July,  the  time  for  its 
performance  being  governed  by  the  need  for  shaping 
the  tree. 

As  before  stated,  the  perfect  formation  of  a  pyramid 
is  commenced  in  the  nursery.  The  plant  budded  the 
previous  year  should  stand  at  sufficient  distance  from 
its  fellows  to  allow  its  branches  to  radiate  from  the 
ground,  for  a  foot  on  either  side,  without  interference 
from  them.  Near  the  middle  of  July,  the  terminal 
bud  should  be  pinched  off  as  at  Fig.  35.  The  wood, 
now  in  its  succulent  condition,  heals  over  at  once,  and 
no  scar  remains. 

By  the  loss  of  the  terminal  bud,  the  sap  is  dis- 
tributed to  the  lower  buds,  and  if,  as  usually  occurs, 
radial  shoots  do  not  push  out,  the  former  are  strength- 
ened sufficiently  to  form  strong  shoots  during  the  next 
season.  The  tree,  if  well  grown,  is,  at  the  end  of  the 
first  season,  fully  equal,  for  forming  a  pyramid,  to 
the  one  exhibited  at  Fig.  36.  By  a  regular  system  of 
summer  pinching  to  restrain  undue  vigor  of  some  of 
the  shoots,  no  great  interference  with  its  organism 
need  occur  to  preserve  the  pyramidal  shape  through 


160 


PRUNING. 


all  its  future  growth.  I  have  often  seen  a  difference 
of  .two  years'  growth  in  favor  of  summer-treated 
trees  over  those  whose  pruning  was  delayed  until  the 
wood  ripened. 

To  induce  the  formation  of  fruit-buds,  summer 
pinching  is  successfully  resorted  to.  Fig.  46  exhibits 
a  twig  with  wood-buds  at  A  and  B,  and  the  soft 
summer  growth  beyond.  If  in  July  this  is  pinched 
off  or  only  broken  to  remain  hanging,  as  in  Fig.  4T, 
the  small  weak  buds  at  A  B  will  be  strongly  devel- 
oped, and  appear  as  in  this  last-mentioned  Figure. 
At  the  swelling  of  the  buds  in  the  next  spring,  these 
will  appear  as  shown  in  Fig.  48.  In  all  these  Fig- 
ures, the  shoot  is  represented  as  broken  too  closely 
to  the  buds. 


Fig.  46. 


Fig.  47. 


Fig.  48. 


Summer  pruning  must  not,  however,  be  continued 


SUMMER   PINCHING.  161 

BO  late  in  the  season  as  to  induce  an  unripened  growth. 
When  several  small  shoots  have  formed  from  the 
upper  buds  after  pinching,  they  should  be  removed 
in  the  subsequent  spring,  as  they  would  tend  to  form 
a  tuft  of  branches  on  the  end  of  the  shoot. 

The  treatment  of  fruit-spurs  upon  bearing  trees 
forms  no  unimportant  part  of  their  management.  The 
excrescence  remaining  at  the  base  of  the  stem  of  a 
fruit  of  the  Duchesse  d'Angoul&ne  is  shown  at  Fig.  49. 
When  this  is  cut  at  A,  the  small  buds  appearing  at  the 
base  are  developed  in  another  year  into  the  condition 
represented  by  Fig.  50.  These  fruit-spurs  will  now, 
if  not  displaced  or  crushed  in  gathering  the  fruit, 
become  permanent,  and  afford  a  security  for  fruitful- 
ness  in  the  tree.  Fig.  51  exhibits  a  cluster  of  fruit- 
bads  on  a  spur,  that  has  borne  several  times. 

Pig.  49.  Fig.  50.  Fig.  51. 


The  rules  for  summer  pruning  and  pinching  may  be 
condensed  as  follows. 

1.  To  develop  wood-buds  on  the  lower  part  of  the 
tree,  prune  all  the  branches  closely  in  spring,  and 
pinch  the  upper  shoots  during  summer.  If  the  upper 


162  PRUNING. 

shoots  push  too  strongly,  deprive  them  partially  of 
leaves,  but  allow  the  lower  ones  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
weak  buds  to  grow. 

2.  Allow  no  useless  shoots  to  absorb  the  vigor  and 
sap  of  the '  tree — for  every  pound  of  them  cut  away 
might  have  been  diverted  to  its  proper  growth. 

3.  To  develop  a  weak  branch,  cut  it  back  to  two  or 
three  buds  in  spring,  provided  the  rest  of  the  tree  be 
closely  pruned  and  summer  pinched,  but  the  weak 
shoot  must  be  allowed  to  grow  unchecked   during 
summer. 

4.  To  check  exuberant  shoots,  they  must  not  be  cut 
back  severely  at  the  winter-pruning,  but  summer- 
pinched  and  partially  deprived  of  leaves. 

5.  Allow  the  strong  branches  to  bear  all  their  fruit, 
but  deprive  the  weak  parts  of  the  tree  entirely  of  fruit. 

FORMS    OF   TRAINING. 

Almost  every  variety  of  pear  tree  exhibits  a  distinct 
and  characteristic  growth.  This  inclination  to  a  par- 
ticular form  modifies  our  control  over  the  tree  to 
such  an  extent  as  to  .render  it  impossible  to  mold 
some  varieties  into  any  of  the  shapes  exhibited  in  the 
figures.  Other  varieties  acquire  the  pyramidal  shape 
so  readily  as  scarcely  to  need  the  restraints  of  pruning. 

Most  of  the  leading  varieties  of  pear  trees  can  be 
recognized  by  their  characteristic  forms  and  color  of 
the  bark,  almost  as  readily  as  by  their  fruit.  The 
light  yellow  bark  and  open  growth  of  the  Bartlett 
and  Duchesse,  and  the  gray,  densely-growing  shoots 
of  the  Urbaniste,  distinguMi  ciich  of  them  as  perfectly 
;is  the  forms  and  colors  of  their  fruits. 


FOEMS   OF  TRAINING. 


163 


Fig.  52  is  from  a  photograph  of  a  Vicar  of 
Winkfield,  four  years  planted,  which  was  only  pruned 
at  the  time  of  its  removal  from  the  nursery. 

Fig.  52. 


The  Urbaniste  and  Flemish  Beauty  assume  the 
pyramidal  shape  without  shortening,  but  still  differ 
widely  in  their  natural  structure. 


164:  PKUNING. 

Fig.  53  represents  a  tree,  the  lower  part  of  which 
has  ceased  to  grow,  in  consequence  of  over-fruiting. 
To  reduce  this  to  a  pyramidal  shape,  without  pruning 
away  a  very  considerable  portion  of  the  tree,  requires 
judicious  pruning.  Cut  the  lower,  unnourished 
branches  back  to  three  or  four  inches.  Leave  the 
remainder  until  the  next  spring,  when  the  branches 
extending  beyond  the  lines  in  the  Figure  are  to  be  cut 
off;  but  during  the  summer,  the  upper  and  more  vigor- 
ous branches  are  to  be  checked  by  pinching,  and  par- 
tially depriving  of  leaves,  in  order  to  throw  the  sap 
into  the  lower  ones.  This  is  the  true  Quenonille. 

Fig.  5-i  represents  a  pear  tree  trained  as  a  column 
— one  of  those  eccentric  forms  attempted  by  French 
gardeners,  which  cannot  be  recommended. 

ESPALIER   AND   QUENOUILLE   TRAINING. 

Happily  for  fruit-growers  of  this  country,  they  are 
not  compelled  to  resort  to  the  laborious,  artificial 
means  practiced  in  other  countries  for  the  production 
of  fruit ;  but  as  it  may  be  desirable  at  some  time  to 
employ  these  methods  for  ornament  or  local  conven- 
ience, they  are  here  given. 

In  Espalier  training  we  should  commence  with  the 
first  summer's  growth  from  the  bud.  The  terminal 
bud  is  pinched  out  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  and 
when  lateral  shoots  push  forth,  they  are  cut  off  on  two 
opposite  sides,  leaving  those  on  the  two  other  sides. 
If  these  push  out  regularly,  two  or  three  pairs  are 
allowed  to  remain,  and  the  stem  cut  back  to  them. 

These  are  trained  to  the  lattice  or  wall,  and  fastened 
in  the  fall.  The  next  year  another  pair  or  two  are 


ESPALIER   AND   QTJENOUILLE   TRAINING.  165 

Fig.  58.  Pig.  64, 


166  PEUNING. 

produced  at  the  proper  distances,  and  fastened  as 
before,  guarding,  however,  against  allowing  horizontal 
shoots  to  be  produced  more  rapidly  than  a  strong, 
vigorous  growth  will  permit. 

The  term  Quenouille  is  misapplied  in  fruit-books. 
It  is  now  applied  in  France  only  to  trees  of  the  form 
represented  in  Fig.  53. 

Arched  training,  as  shown  in  Fig.  55,  is  nearly 
abandoned  in  France  and  Belgium.  It  is  generally 
confessed  to  have  produced  the  most  ugly  and  ill- 
shapen  trees  imaginable,  besides  requiring  immense 
labor  and  unremitting  care.  It  consisted  in  tying 
down  the  ends  of  shoots  to  pegs  on  the  ground,  until 
a  drooping  habit  had  been  produced,  or  the  check  of 
sap  by  the  compressure  has  induced  fruit-bearing. 

RULES  FOE  PRUNING. 

1.  Cut  near  a  wood-bud  when  pruning  to  perfect 
the  shape. 

2.  Prune  severely  in  the   spring  those  branches 
that  are  desired  to  grow  vigorously. 

3.  Pinch  in  summer  and  partially  deprive  of  leaves 
those  branches  that  grow  too  vigorously  and  absorb 
too  much  sap. 

4.  Thin,  weakly  shoots   should  either  be   pruned 
close,  or  left  entire  with  a  terminal  bud :  the  more 
vigorous  ones  being,  at  the  same  time,  stopped  by 
pinching. 

5.  Let  the  severest  pruning  be  performed  on  the 
tree  when  young. 

6.  To  develop  fruit-buds,  break,  pinch,  or  twist  the 
shoots  above  the  buds  intended  to  be  developed. 


ESPALIER   AND   ARCH  TRAINING.  167 

Fig.  66. 


1 68  PRUNING. 

7.  Prune  when  the  sap  is  active,  that  the  wound 
may  heal  quickly. 

8.  When  trees  are  tardy  in  coming  into  bearing, 
prune  severely  in  spring,  pinch  constantly  in  summer, 
and  root-prune  in  early  autumn.  v 

9.  When  a  tree  has  been  removed,  prune  off  the 
branches  in  proportion  to  the  loss  of  roots. 

SEASON    FOR   PRUNING. 

Mr.  DOWNING  recommended  winter  and  fall  pruning 
of  fruit-trees,  without  regard  to  kinds.  This  is  the 
general  practice ;  but  as  relates  to  the  Pear,  it 
is  beginning  to  be  thought  erroneous  by  the  best 
pomologists.  Wounds  made  in  winter  pruning  can- 
not heal  over  until  the  sap  shall  deposit  the  matter 
that  ripens  into  bark  and  wood.  In  the  meanwhile, 
the  raw  cut  becomes  dry  and  checked,  the  end  of  the 
branch  usually  dies  do.wn  for  some  distance,  and 
requires  a  new  cut  in  the  spring.  The  best  season  for 
pruning  the  Pear  is  after  the  buds  begin  to  swell  in 
April,  until  the  new  leaves  are  half  formed. 

All  the  wood  that  requires  removal  should  be 
pruned  at  this  season,  to  economize  the  sap  before  it 
has  been  wasted  in  wood  growth,  that  will  need  to  be 
pruned  away.  Pruning,  however,  beyond  the  1st  of 
July  should  be  avoided,  as  it  induces  a  late  suc- 
culent growth,  that  remaining  unripened,  is  subject 
to  blight. 

ROOT-PRUNING,  AND  ITS  EFFECT   ON    SHAPE  AND    FRUITING. 

It  has  long  been  known,  that  an  obstinate  variety 
growing  on  the  pear  stock,  might  be  hastened  in  its 


BOOT-PRUNING,    AND   ITS   EFFECTS.  169 

fruiting,  by  separating  some  of  the  roots,  thus  cutting 
off  the  abundant  supply  of  nutriment  that  increased 
the  wood-growth  at  the  expense  of  fruit  formation. 
The  first  object  of  this  process  is,  to  produce  fibrous 
roots,  instead  of  the  long,  naked  ones  which  support 
the  tree ;  for  fibrous  roots  alone  provide  the  proper 
sap  for  forming  or  sustaining  fruit-buds. 

When  a  root  is  smoothly  separated  in  the  last  of 
August  or  first  of  September,  with  a  sloping  cut  from 
the  under  to  the  upper  surface  of  the  root,  the  return- 
ing sap  forms  upon  the  edges  of  the  cut  innumerable 
fibres  and  rootlets.  The  tendency  to  form  roots  at 
this  season  from  every  abrasion  beneath  the  surface 
is  so  great,  that  even  the  young  shoots  of  the  Pear 
will  form  roots,  if  half  cut  through  and  layered. 

The  effect  of  root-pruning  is  to  render  the  pear  tree 
more  manageable;  its  growth  being  more  equally 
distributed  around  the  tree,  instead  of  assuming  the 
rampant  form  of  the  gourmand.  Most  varieties,  tardy 
in  bearing  upon  the  pear  stock,  may  be  hastened  six 
or  eight  years  in  fruit-bearing,  by  root-pruning.  The 
Dix,  Seckel,  Beurre,  Bosc,  and  others,  that  are  averse 
to  the  Quince,  by  root-pruning  may  be  fruited  in  four 
or  five  years.  Pear  trees,  several  times  root-pruned, 
may  be  removed  with  almost  absolute  certainty  of 
success,  at  almost  any  age  or  size ;  so  that  the  favorite 
trees  of  a  tenant  may  be  removed  from  the  premises 
he  quits,  with  his  furniture,  and  the  regret  at  leaving 
objects  of  care  and  skill  may  be  entirely  avoided. 

Upon  this  subject,  nothing  can  be  said  of  so  much 
interest,  and  worthy  of  so  much  attention  as  the  fol- 
lowing from  Mr.  Rivers,  of  Sawbridgeport,  England* 

8 


170  PRUNING. 

Mr.  R.,  it  should  be  said,  confines  his  remarks  entirely 
to  the  Pear  upon  the  quince  stock,  while  instructions 
for  root-pruning  generally  refers  to  the  Pear  on  pear 
roots.  Mr.  Eivers  says  : 

"  I  must  premise,  that  handsome  and  fertile  pyramids,  more  particu- 
larly of  some  free-bearing  varieties,  may  be  reared  without  this  annual, 
biennial,  or  triennial  operation.  I  have  a  large  plantation  of  pear  trees 
on  Quince,  which  bids  fair  to  make  handsome  and  fertile  pyramids, 
yet  they  have  not  been  root-pruned,  neither  do  I  intend  to  root-prune 
them.  But  I  wish  to  impress  upon  my  readers  that  my  principal  object 
is  to  make  trees  fit  for  small  gardens,  and  to  instruct  those  who  are  not 
blessed  with  a  large  garden  how  to  keep  their  trees  perfectly  under 
control ;  and  this  can  best  be  done  by  annual,  or  at  least,  biennial  at- 
tention to  their  roots ;  for  if  a  tree  be  suffered  to  grow  three  or  more 
years,  and  then  root-pruned,  it  will  receive  a  check  if  the  spring  be  dry, 
and  the  crop  of  fruit  for  one  season  will  be  jeopardied.  Therefore,  those 
who  are  disinclined  to  the  annual  operation,  and  yet  wish  to  confine  the 
growth  of  their  trees  within  limited  grounds,  by  root-pruning — say  once 
in  three  years — should  only  operate  upon  one-third  of  their  trees  in  one 
season.  They  will  thus  save  two-thirds  in  an  unchecked  leafing  state ; 
and  those  who  have  ample  room  and  space  may  pinch  their  pyramids  in 
summer,  and  suffer  them  to  grow  to  the  height  of  fifteen  or  twenty  feet, 
without  pruning  their  roots.  I  have  seen  avenues  of  such  trees,  in 
Belgium,  quite  imposing.  Pyramidal  trees  on  the  quince  stock  (and 
we  would  add,  on  the  pear  stock  also),  when  the  fruit-garden  is  small, 
and  the  real  gardening  artist  feels  a  pleasure  in  keeping  them  in  a 
healthy  and  fruitful  state,  by  perfect  control  over  the  roots,  should  be 
operated  upon  as  follows:  A  trench  should  be  dug  around  the  tree, 
about  eighteen  inches  from  the  stem,  every  autumn,  just  after  the  fruit 
is  gathered,  if  the  soil  be  sufficiently  moist — if  not,  it  will  be  better  to 
wait  till  the  usual  autumnal  rains  are- fallen,  and  the  roots<  carefully 
examined,  those  inclined  to  perpendicular  growth,  cut  with  a  spade, 
which  must  be  introduced  quite  under  the  tree  on  all  sides,  so  that  no 
root  can  possibly  escape  amputation,  and  all  the  horizontal  roots  except 
those  that  are  small  and  fibrous,  shortened  with  a  knife,  to  within  a 
circle  eighteen  inches  from  the  stem  (if  they  have  not  spread  out  to 
this  extent,  they  need  not  be  pruned,  but  merely  brought  near  the 
surface  and  spread  out),  and  all  brought  near  the  surface  as  possible, 


RULES   FOE   PEUNDTG.  171 

filling  in  the  trench  with  compost  for  the  roots  to  rest  on ;  the  trench 
may  then  be  filled  with  compost  and  the  mold  from  an  old  hot-bed, 
equal  parts  will  answer  exceedingly  well ;  the  surface  should  then  be 
covered  with  half-rotted  dung,  and  the  roots  left  till  the  following 
autumn  brings  its  annual  care.  It  may  be  found  that,  after  a  few  years 
of  root-pruning,  the  circumferential  mass  of  fibres  will  have  become  too 
matted,  and  that  some  of  the  roots  are  bare  of  fibres  toward  the  stem. 
This  will  cause  them  to  give  out  fibres,  so  that  the  entire  circle  of  three 
or  more  feet  around  the  tree  is  full  of  fibrous  roots  near  the  surface, 
waiting  with  open  mouths  for  the  nourishment  annually  given  to  them 
by  surface-dressing  and  liquid  manures.  Handsome  pyramidal  trees 
may  be  produced  by  shortening  the  shoots  in  the  summer,  and  if  they 
are  inclined  to  grow  too  vigorously,  occasional  (say  biennial  or  triennial) 
root-pruning  by  the  spade,  will  be  sufficient." 

I  here  introduce  ME.  RIVEES'  plan  of  root-pruning, 
although  quite  unadapted  to  our  necessities,  in  order 
that  the  reader  may  have  an  opportunity  of  observing 
what  is  called  high  cultivation. 

It  should  be  understood  by  every  one  that  reads  this 
article,  that  the  requisites  for  forming  fruit-spurs  are, 
fibrous  roots  well  supplied  with  nutriment.  While 
the  trees  are  making  only  long  cane-like  roots,  there 
will  be  no  supply  of  sufficiently-digested  pabulum  for 
fruit. 

The  intention  of  most  cultivators  in  this  country 
being  to  produce  large  pyramids,  the  annual  pruning 
of  roots  would  be  an  unnecessary  labor,  especially  on 
the  quince  stock.  On  the  pear  stock,  biennial  root- 
pruning,  by  thrusting  down  a  spade,  after  having  dug 
a  trench  one  spade  deep,  at  the  proper  distance  from 
the  stem,  is  sufficient.  One  other  variation  from  ME. 
KIVEES'  recommendations  is  the  time  in  which  this 
root-pruning  is  to  be  performed.  If  it  is  delayed  until 
all  fruit  is  gathered,  the  Vicar  and  the  Winter  varie- 


172  PRUNING. 

ties  would  lose  the  benefit  of  the  descending  and  root- 
forming  sap  when  the  leaf  is  ripening.  On  the  quince 
stock  we  have  not  often  found  that  pear  trees  need 
root-pruning,  since  the  great  difficulty  is  to  restrain 
their  fruit-bearing  tendency.  The  great  cause  of 
failure  in  cultivating  these  trees  is  their  enormous 
overbearing,  producing  one  great  crop,  and  then  re- 
maining unhealthy,  exhausted,  and  stinted  for  several 
years. 

But,  we  repeat,  in  order  to  give  emphasis  to  the 
truth,  that  root-pruning  is  quite  necessary  to  the  per- 
fection of  the  pyramid  form,  unless  the  tree  has  had 
its  training  commenced  with  the  young  shoot  from 
the  bud. 


PAET  YL— DISEASES  OF  THE  PEAE. 

THE  Pear  has  several  times  in  this  country  been 
subject  to  most  fatal  epidemics.  Men  and  animals 
are  not  alone  the  victims  of  pestilence,  but  Nature 
suffers  these  violent  perturbations  through  all  her 
dominions.  It  is  not  surprising  that  the  sudden  loss 
of  one  tenth  of  a  fine  pear  orchard  should  discourage 
and  alarm  the  fruit-grower ;  still  he  ought  not  to  forget 
that  its  cause  is  exceptional,  and  will  pass  away. 
These  diseases,  though  prevailing  for  several  seasons 
in  succession,  occur  only  at  long  intervals ;  and  the 
period  of  a  disease  being  terminated,  we  may  usually 
calculate  upon  exemption  from  it  for  a  considerable 
time. 

WINTER,    OK   FROZEN    SAP   BLIGHT. 

The  diseases  of  the  Pear,  known  by  Pomologists  as 
Leaf-Blight,  Summer-Blight,  Winter-Blight,  Insect- 
Blight,  and  Frozen-Sap-Blight,  are  generally,  at  pre- 
sent, recognized  under  the  two  latter  terms,  though 
we  think  the  leaf-blight  an  entirely  distinct  disease. 
There  has  been  so  much  speculation  upon  the  causes 
of  Winter  or  Frozen  Sap  Blight,  and  so  many  reme- 
dies recommended,  that  we  are  not  prepared  to  adopt 
any  of  the  theories  in  explanation  of  it,  or  any  nos- 
trum as  a  specific. 

The  pear  tree  is  a  greedy  absorber  of  fluids,  and 
(  173  ) 


174  DISEASES  OF  THE  PEAR. 


when  the  warm  rains  of  September  excite  its  absorb- 
ents, the  gourmand  drinks  np  large   quant 
nutriment,  and  a  late  and  rapid  growth  of  shoots  is 
formed.    In  these  succulent  and  unripe  growths. 
sap  is  retained  without  that  vitality  of  leaf  which  will 
effect  its  maturity  and  assimilation,  bein^  thin 
watery,  and  not  sufficiently  matured  to  enable  it  to 
resist  the  frost,  and  death  ensues.    In  the  plant  as 
well  as  the  animal,  great  length  of  t 
before  the  poison  affects  the  whole  system  and  causes 
death.    It  is  not  unfrequent  that  the  tree,  poisoned 
in  autumn,  survi  ves  till  the  July  folio  w  i  n  g.  The  1  > 
of  the  trunk  and  principal  limbs  exhibits  bhv 
and  on  cutting  into  them,  the  bark  and  wo 
distance  beneath,  are  found  quite  dead  and  bJ; 

The  only  remedy  is,  to  cut  away  at  once  all  of  the 
tree  that  is  affected,  cutting  below  the  lowest  spot. 
But  few  trees  attacked  with  this  disease  will  b< 
much  value,  even  with  the  best  treatment,  that  can  be 
given  them.   Out  of  forty  trees,  six  or  eight  i< 
thus  affected  in  one  season,  we  succeeded  in  saving 

the  Stumps,  tWO  feet  high,  of  only  eif(ht.  or  ten.    'I  :. 

trees  had  be  ghtfron]  ..nd  phi.-. 

the  fall  preceding  the  attack,  and  exhibi  heir 

large,  thrifty  shoot  ,  that  rapid,  unripe  growt.li  above 

The  most  Successful  mean:-,  of  having  trer- .  from 

ravages  of  t-  aid  iti  s 

cause  being  late  and  unripe  growth,  it  mo~t  fn-o;ijf-iii.ly 

occurs  o;  '•!)  sad  damp  soils,  retenti  iter, 

and  abounding ifl  vo^etabh:  and   animal    matl'i.     To 
IOV«   the  exccftS  of  Wtt'  d   inde»-»Jthe 


WINTRK,    OU   FROZKX    SAP    1VLWHT.  175 

onlv  moans,  is  draining;  the  surplus  rank  vegetable 
and  animal  manor  must  bo  neutralized  or  decomposed 
tie  application  ot'  alkaline  substances — ashes,lime, 
marl,  eve.,  v\  Inch,  as  all  experience  shows,  insure  by 
their  direct  intluoiuv  on  .  a  short,  stocky,  I 

well-ripened  uTowih.  Fifty  bushels  ot'  lime,  and  half 
that  niiantitv  of  ashes,  scattered  over  an  acre,  and 
worked  in  with  tho  plow,  is  an  almost  certain pre- 
vontivo  ot'  this  disease,  it'  well  drained. 

\  evideneo    in    support    ot'   this   theory,    is 

the  t'aet,  that  this  blight  has  never  been  known  to 
originate  on  the  dr\  >andv  loam  •  I  i;'  Island,  not 

ovon  with  lioaw  manuring;  the  drought  of  midsummer 

ul\\  a^  ripeniiii;-  the  shoots  so  eonipletely.  that  the 
\oa\~es  tall  a  month  before  fKv i s  ev^nunenee. 

It'   the   character  ot'   the   season  ami 
urowth  of  the   trees,  inoli.i/.vM    ;>\    ; .  vsh   ^reen   leaves 
and  len^tlkMun^  shoves,  late  in  the  fall,  warn  the  cul- 
tivator of  olan^er  from  this  disease,  he  should 
the  earth  from  the  collar  of  the  tree,  down  to  the  tirst 
roots,  and  around  for  some   diMancc.     This  exposure 

will  check  tho  tendency  of  the  roots  to  absorb  more 

nutriment,  and  ot'  course  arrest  the  gTCWth*    The  same 

rosult  mav  be  gained  by  root -pruning)  whenever  the 
other  method  is  not  com  enient ,  or  pr 

This  disease,  the   most  formidable   that   attacks  the 
Tear,  is  distinguished  bv  certain  peculiar  ligM 

1.    At    the  time  of  \\  spring  pruning  by  a 

thick    clammx   sap    tlo\\  in;1;  slov\ 
— while  a  healthy  tree  exhibits  a  fVesh,  clean  Ottt. 

.'-v  the  appearance,  laic  in  spring,  ol' dead  patches 
of  bark   on  tho   trunk    and    limbs.     This,  however,  is 


176  DISEASES    OF   THE   PEAR. 

Bometimes  the  consequence  of  overbearing,  in  which 
case,  the  dead  bark  will  often  cover  the  living  and 
most  healthy  wood  and  bark ;  yet  this  peculiarity  is 
frequently  the  first  stage  of  the  disease. 

3.  By  the  extremities  of  the  shoots  in  early  summer 
shrivelling,  turning  black,  and  perishing  suddenly 
When  these  are  instantly  cut  away  for  some  distance 
below  the  diseased  parts,  the  tree  may  often  be  saved  ; 
but  if  the  dead  patches  of  bark,  above  mentioned, 
first  make  their  appearance,  the  case  is  critical. 

THE   INSECT-BLIGHT. 

The  insect  causing  this  blight  is  known  among  po- 
mologists  as  the  Scolytus  pyri,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
minute  of  our  numerous  enemies. 

In  July  or  August  it  perforates  shoots  of  sometimes 
two  seasons'  growth,  and  deposits  its  egg.  The  suc- 
ceeding June  or  July,  the  branch  is  observed  to  wither 
and  turn  suddenly  brown.  The  disease  seldom  travels 
below  the  point  attacked,  and  if  the  part  be  removed 
immediately,  is  directly  checked.  The  insect  engen- 
dered near  a  bud  eats  its  way  to  the  pith,  and  there, 
by  feeding  upon  the  sap-vessels,  destroys  the  organ- 
ism that  supplies  life  to  the  upper  shoot.  At  the 
first  appearance  of  the  ravages  of  the  insect,  all  the 
branches  affected  should  be  cut  and  burned — the 
attack  must  be  sudden  and  energetic. 

THE   LEAF-BLIGHT. 

This  disease  is  indicated  by  a  sudden  spotting  and 
premature  ripening  of  many  of  the  leaves.  The 
growth  is  checked  for  a  time,  and  if  the  attack  is  long- 


INSECT-BLIGHT LEAF-BLIGHT.  177 

continued,  or  wide-spread,  the  fruit  is  lessened  in  size, 
and  sometimes  refuses  to  ripen.  It  is  only  serious, 
when  appearing  upon  Pear  seedlings,  as  it  checks 
their  growth,  and  prevents  their  being  budded  during 
the  season  of  its  attack. 

It  is  very  probable  that  the  winter-killing  of  seed- 
lings results  in  great  measure  from  the  previous  feeble 
growth,  as  the  roots  produced  are  in  exact  proportion 
to  the  quantity  of  leaves,  and  the  active  vitality  of  the 
leaves  being  destroyed,  the  roots  are  too  feebly  devel- 
oped to  retain  their  hold  in  the  soil.  A  curious  fact 
in  the  history  of  this  disease  is,  its  confining  its  attacks 
almost  entirely  to  seedlings  and  wild  pears.  A  graft 
or  bud  of  the  finer  varieties,  of  the  greatest  luxuriance 
of  foliage,  may  not  exhibit  a  single  symptom  of  this 
disease,  while  the  leaves  of  the  stock  will  be  entirely 
blackened.  Its  approach  may  be  looked  for,  when- 
ever warm  and  abundant  rains  are  succeeded  by  hot, 
bleaching  sunshine.  The  leaves  of  pear  seedlings 
being  very  succulent,  and  in  such  a  season  as  just 
described,  accustomed  to  a  moist  atmosphere  and  a 
shaded  sky,  are  not  prepared  for  the  great  change, 
and  consequently  are  scorched  and  blackened.  "When 
occurring  in  the  seed-bed,  I  do  not  doubt  that  the 
close  planting  of  the  young  trees  occasions  this  result. 


PART   YIL  —  ESTSECTS    INJURIOUS   TO    THE 
PEAK. 

THE  Scolytus  pyri,  already  mentioned,  is  a  very 
minute  beetle,  not  much  larger  than  a  flea.  It  punc- 
tures the  young  wood  of  the  pear  shoots,  and  deposits 
there  its  eggs.  It  is  the  larva  of  this  insect  that 
accomplishes  the  mischief.  It  is  thus  described  by 
DOWNING  :  "  The  beetle  is  a  deep  brown,  with  legs  of 
a  paler  color ;  its  thorax  is  short,  convex,  rough  in 
front,  and  covered  with  erect  bristles.  The  wing 
covers  are  marked  with  rows  of  punctured  points, 
between  which  are  also  rows  of  bristles,  and  they 
appear  cut  off  very  obliquely  behind."  The  larva 
completes  its  change  by  June  or  July,  and  gnaws  its 
way  through  the  bark,  leaving  a  small  round  punc- 
ture. 

THE   SCALE   INSECT. 

This  abominable  and  prolific  nuisance  is  insignificant 
in  appearance,  but  formidable  in  mischief.  Trees  of 
clean,  smooth  bark,  sometimes  in  the  single  month  of 
September,  become  so  foul  with  this  insect  as  to 
appear  covered  with  bran-scales.  These  scales  are 
not  the  insects,  but  cover  small  reddish  cocculi,  that 
when  crushed  with  the  finger-nail  leave  a  spot  of 
blood.  They  feed  upon  the  more  sluggish  juices  of 
the  trunk  and  limbs.  In  a  short  time  the  tree  becomes 
(  178  ) 


THE   SCALE-INSECT.  179 

BO  infested  with  them,  that  the  most  vigorous  efforts 
must  be  exerted  to  clear  it  of  the  enemy.  Some 
of  my  trees  had,  by  neglect,  become  so  badly 
affected,  that  I  saw  no  remedy  would  preserve  them, 
and  was  compelled  to  cut  them  down.  When  the 
cocci  are  washed  away,  the  bark  appears  rough  and 
blotched,  and  presents  a  diseased  appearance. 

"WASHES. — A  solution  of  soda,  or  potash  in  water, 
not  stronger  than  one  pound  of  soda  to  one  gallon  of 
water,  or  one  pound  of  potash  to  two  gallons  of  water, 
is  efficacious.  But  washes  of  this  strength  must  not 
be  applied  to  trees  in  foliage. 

Whale-oil  soap,  dissolved  at  the  rate  of  one  pound 
to  three  or  four  gallons  of  water,  is  a  most  effective 
wash,  and  the  efficiency  is  increased  when  the  soap  is 
dissolved  in  a  decoction  of  refuse  tobacco.  Camphor 
is  sometimes  added  ;  but  this  gum  is  somewhat  costly. 
The  wash  of  whale-oil  soap  may  be  used  stronger,  if 
applied  when  the  leaves  have  fallen. 

For  the  following,  I  am  indebted  to.  the  pen  and 
pencil  of  Mr.  A.  O.  MOOKE. 

"If  in  the  month  of  October  the  vigilant  cultivator  scrutinizes  hia 
young  pear  trees,  he  may  be  surprised  at  finding  many  of  them 
strangely  covered,  on  trunk  and  limbs,  with  a  white  substance,  which  at 
first  may  seem  to  be  a  mold  or  mildew,  such  as  would  be  engendered 
by  a  damp  situation.  Upon  attempting  to  scrape  this  off,  a  claret- 
colored  liquid  will  smear  the  stem  as  if  with  blood.  A  close  examina- 
tion will  show  that  this  white  substance  is  composed  of  small  paper- 
like  scales.  If  a  scale  is  removed  carefully  so  as  to  expose  the  under 
surface,  it  will  at  this  season  be  found  to  cover  a  minute  dark-red 
object,  surrounded  by  yet  smaller  dust-like  atoms.  This  is  as  far  in  our 
investigation  as  the  unaided  vision  will  carry  us.  A  good  microscopic 
lens  will,  however,  reveal  a  family  composed  of  a  mother  (as  seen  at 


180 


INSECTS    ENJUBIOUS   TO   THE   PEAK. 


Fig.  57)  with  her  numerous  unhatched  progeny,  consisting  of  from 
twenty  to  fifty  eggs — the  breaking  of  which  latter  furnished  the  red 
fluid  before  noticed.  After  the  eggs  have  been  deposited,  the  body  of 

Fig.  56. 


Fig.  56  represents  a  Pear  branch  attacked  by  the  Bark-Louse.  The  insect  being 
concealed  under  the  white  scales. 

Fig.  57  represents  the  under  side  of  one  of  the  scales,  with  the  eggs  adhering, 
greatly  magnified. 

the  female  contracts,  as  shown  in  Fig.  67.  Previous  to  the  first  of  Octo- 
ber, I  have  found  the  insect  under  the  scale  without  the  eggs,  but  by 
arranging  the  light  so  as  to  produce  a  slightly  transparent  effect,  the 
eggs  may  then  be  seen  within  the  body  of  the  parent,  as  at  Fig.  58. 


THE   SCALE-INSECT. 


181 


Fig.  58. 


"  At  this  time  the  insect  appears  almost  lifeless,  and 
probably  it  has  already  committed  all  the  injury  to 
the  tree  it  is  capable  of  inflicting :  this  injury  con- 
sists in  the  abstraction  of  the  juices  of  the  tree. 
Around  each  minute  paper  domicil  may  be  seen  a 
discolored  spot.  It  is  not  unusual  to  see  a  tree  of 
eight  or  ten  feet  in  height  with  every  part  of  the 
stem  and  many  of  its  branches  whitened  by  this 
injurious  insect.  No  tree  thus  attacked  can  be  healthy. 
"  Trees  situated  in  grass  lands,  or  otherwise  neglect- 
ed, peculiarly  invite  this  sloven's  pest.  Slow-growing 
varieties  of  the  Pear  are  more  subject  to  it  than  the 
rapid  growing  kinds. 

"  We  will  now  consider  the  means  of  destroying 
this  troublesome  insect.  It  is  probable  that  the  time 
in  which  the  injury  is  committed  is  during  the  sum- 
mer months,  although  the  insect,  being  not  then 
invested  with  its  paper-like  covering,  can  only  be  discovered  with  diffi- 
culty. The  practice  of  washing  the  trunk  and  main  branches  of  fruit- 
trees  with  a  mixture  of  soft-soap  and  water,  one  part  of  the  former  to 
two  of  the  latter,  applied  with  a  coarse  cloth,  using  considerable  fric- 
tion, can  not  be  too  highly  recommended  for  the  health  and  general 
thriftiness  of  the  orchard.  This  application  should  be  made  in  the 
spring,  before  the  swelling  of  the  buds,  and  again  in  early  June — this 
time,  however,  greater  care  is  necessary  to  avoid  injury  to  the  young 
shoots.  The  young  insect  is  then  about  commencing  its  summer  depre- 
dations, and  all  that  escaped  the  spring  washing  maybe  easily  destroyed. 

"  Where  soft-soap  can  not  be  obtained,  common  hard-soap  may  be 
used  instead ;  half  a  pound  dissolved  in  two  gallons  of  hot  water. 
Harris  recommends  a  solution  of  two  pounds  of  potash  in  seven  quarts 
of  water,  or  a  pickle  consisting  of  a  quart  of  common  salt  in  two  gal- 
lons of  water.  No  preparation,  however,  I  believe  to  be  so  safe  and 
efficacious  as  the  one  first  mentioned. 

"Whale-oil  soap,  or  even  common  hard-soap,  placed  in  the  'crotch 
of  the  principal  branches,  and  allowed  to  remain  until  washed  down 
gradually  by  the  rains,  will  be  found  excellent  for  the  general  health 
of  the  tree,  and  prevent  the  attacks  of  this  and  many  other  insects. 


*  Fig.  8  is  a  magnified  view  of  the  Female  Bark-Louse  before  depositing  her  egga. 


182  INSECTS    INJURIOUS   TO   THE   PEAK. 

"  Another  species  of  the  coccus  has  lately  been  brought  to  my  notice, 
which  seems  to  affect  the  Apple  and  the  Pear  in  the  same  manner  as 
the  above,  and  is  sometimes  found  upon  the  same  tree.  It  has,  instead 
of  the  white  paper-like  covering,  a  hard  coriacious  scale,  of  narrower 
and  longer  shape,  and  the  eggs  are  pearly  white  instead  of  red.  I  fear 
that  where  this  insect  exists,  it  may  prove  a  more  troublesome  enemy 
than  the  white  scale,  as  its  hard  covering  forms  a  more  effective  protpo- 
tion  against  the  wash  recommended." 

After  the  coccus  has  acquired  its  shell,  a  simple 
washing  will  not  remove  it.  It  must  be  scrubbed 
off  with  considerable  force,  and  in  bad  cases,  with  sand 
and  soap. 

THE   SLUG. 

The  pear-slug  is  another  insignificant,  but  trouble- 
some enemy.  This  slimy  and  disagreable  fellow 
attaches  himself  to  the  upper  part  of  the  leaf,  in  Juno 
or  July. 

It  is  about  half  an  inch  long,  and  somewhat  resem- 
bles a  snail.  It  quickly  devours  all  the  succulent 
portion  of  the  leaf,  the  skeleton  of  which  remains 
upon  the  tree,  and  appears  as  if  scorched  with  fire. 
Growth  is  stopped  at  once,  and  what  fruit  has  set, 
never  attains  any  considerable  size.  Dust,  lime,  ashes, 
and  other  substances,  that  will  attach  to  the  slime  of 
the  insect,  will,  if  thrown  upon  the  leaves  where  it  is 
feeding,  soon  detach  his  hold,  and  cause  him  to  fall  off 
and  die.  Soapsuds,  potash-water  (made  with  six  or 
eight  gallons  of  water  to  a  pound  of  potash),  or  strong 
tobacco-water,  will  speedily  destroy  this  insect. 

I  am  happy  to  be  able  to  add  the  result  of  some 
investigations  into  the  habits  of  this  insect  by  Mr.  A. 
O.  MOORE  : 

"The  insect  which  we  familiarly  call  the  Pear  Slug  (Selandria  cerasi,) 


THE   SLUG.  183 

represented  in  Fig.  59  is,  at  the  period  of  its  life  when  generally  noticed 
by  the  cultivator,  a  greenish-black,  club-shaped  worm,  with  a  thick 
rounded  anterior  extremity,  and  tapering  towards  the  posterior.  It  is 
covered  with  a  semi-transparent  coat  of  slime,  which  exudes  from  the 
body,  and,  in  the  hottest  sunshine,  does  not  become  hard  or  dry. 

"  While  resting  undisturbed  upon  the  leaf,  the  tail  or  last  segment  ot 
the  body  is  slightly  raised.  At  its  greatest  size,  the  worm  is  about  half 
an  inch  in  length  ;  it  is  very  sluggish  in  its  habits,  being  rarely  seen  to 
move. 

"  The  injury  consists  in  its  eating  the  upper  skin  of  the  leaf,  while  the 

Fig.  59. 


Fig.  59.  The  Pear-Sing  full  grown.  The  Leaf  with  its  upper  surface  partially 
destroyed,  (a.)  The  Egg  deposited  upon  the  upper  surface  of  the  leaf. 

lower  skin  and  the  veins  are  untouched  ;  the  leaves  immediately  assume 
a  brown,  unsightly  appearance,  while  the  proper  function  of  the  leaf, 
the  elaboration  of  the  sap,  is  almost  entirely  obstructed. 

"Like  all  other  insects,  its  existence  may  be  divided  into  four  stages  : 
First,  the  Egg  ;  second,  the  Larva,  or  worm  state,  which  is  peculiarly 
its  eating  and  growing  period ;  third,  the  Pupa,  or  dormant  state ; 


184:  INSECTS   INJURIOUS    TO   THE   PEAR. 

fourth,  the  Imago,  which  is  the  perfect  or  winged  state.  In  this  last 
stage  only  are  the  differences  of  sex  discernible  ;  and  by  the  Fly,  or 
perfect  insect,  the  eggs  are  deposited  which  reproduce  the  brood  of 
destructive  worms. 

"This  fly  of  the  Pear  Slug  is  described  as  a  four-winged  Hymenopter- 
ous  (or  wasp-like)  insect,  of  a  glossy  black  color.  The  wings  are  some- 
what convex  on  the  upper  side,  and  slightly  wrinkled,  transparent, 
reflecting  the  colors  of  the  rainbow,  the  anterior  pair  having  a  smoky 
band  across  them.  The  legs  are  tipped  with  a  dull  yeUow  color.  The 
body  of  the  female  measures  rather  more  than  a  fifth  of  an  inch 
in  length,  that  of  the  male  is  smaller.  They  make  their  appearance 
twice  during  the  summer,  the  first  time  about  the  end  of  May  or  the 
first  of  June,  the  second  appearance  about  the  latter  end  of  July.  On 
each  occasion  they  lay  their  eggs,  and  disappear  in  about  three  weeks. 

Fig.  60. 


Fig.  60.  The  Perfect  Insect  or  Fly  of  the  Pear  Slug— magnified.  The  cross  line* 
represent  the  natural  size. 

"  The  slug  fly  deposits  its  eggs  singly  on  the  upper  surface  of  the  most 
matured  leaves,  covering  it  with  a  frothy,  white,  varnish-like  mucilage, 
which  surrounds  it,  and  serves  at  once  to  attach  it  to  the  leaf,  and  to 
exclude  the  atmosphere.  The  small  spot  a  on  the  leaf,  Fig.  59,  repre- 
sents the  size  and  form  of  the  egg,  which  is  seen  as  a  dark  center  in  the 
middle  of  a  white  spot.  Fig.  61  represents  the  egg  magnified,  and  the 
worm  or  young  slug  within  the  semi-transparent  shell.  Fig.  62  exhibits 
the  egg  also  magnified,  after  the  insect  has  emerged. 

"When  first  hatched,  the  young  slug  is  white,  andean  with  difficulty 
be  discerned  by  the  naked  eye  ;  it  commences  immediately  to  puncture 
with  email  holes  the  surface  of  the  leaf  upon  which  it  is  produced.  It 


THE   SLUG.  185 

soon  acquires  a  covering  of  greenish-black  slime,  and  is  said  by  HARRIS 
to  live  as  a  worm  twenty-six  days,  shedding  its  skin  during  that  period 

Fig.  61.  Fig.  62. 


Fig.  61.    The  Egg  magnified,  with  the  Embryo  Slug  seen  through  the  shell. 
Fig.  62.    The  Egg  empty  after  the  Slug  has  escaped — magnified. 

five  times.  Fig.  63  gives  its  appearance  after  it  has  shed  its  skin  for  the 
last  time,  with  the  forsaken  skin  lying  near  it.  It  is  now  much  changed 
in  color,  being  a  brown-yellow,  and  somewhat  diminished  in  size.  In 
a  few  hours  it  falls  to  the  ground,  and  immediately  seeks  to  burrow  into 
the  soil.  Descending  to  the  depth  of  several  inches,  it  forms  a  cocoon 
with  a  shiny  brown  interior  surface,  and  a  rough  exterior,  with 
grains  of  earth  adhering.  Fig.  64  shows  a  broken  cocoon  with  the 

Fig.  63.  Fig.  64.  Fig.  65. 


Fig.  63.  (a)  The  Slug,  after  shedding  its  skin  the  last  time.  (&)  The  skin  left  upon 
the  leaf. 

Fig.  64.  (c.)  The  Cocoon  from  which  the  insect  has  been  prematurely  removed. 
(d)  The  Slug  after  having  commenced  its  change  to  the  fly  state. 

Fig.  65.  The  Ichneumon  Fly  magnified;  supposed  to  be  of  the  species  Encyrtus, 
taken  from  the  egg  of  the  slug. 

insect,  now  much  further  diminished  in  size,  taken  out.  This  is  the 
Pupa  or  dormant  state.  It  remains  in  the  earth  after  its  first  appear- 
ance sixteen  days,  when  it  comes  forth  as  the  perfect  insect,  Fig.  60. 
The  second  brood  remain  hi  their  subterranean  retreat  until  the  suc- 
ceeding spring. 

"  We  will  now  consider  the  means  for  preventing  or  palliating  the 
injury  resulting  from  the  attacks  of  the  pear-slug.  I  would  first  remark, 
that  the  slug  is  found  in  much  greater  abundance  on  weakly  growing 
trees  than  on  those  of  strong  and  rapid  growth.  This  fact  points  to 


186  INSECTS   INJinRIOUS   TO   THE   PEAR. 

the  first  and  fundamental  remedy,  the  securing  of  healthy  trees,  and  by 
the  proper  enrichment  and  preparation  of  the  soil,  of  a  thrifty  and 
uniform  growth.  Nature  has  provided  a  minute  but  formidable  enemy 
to  the  slug,  which  serves  very  materially  to  check  its  increase.  This 
enemy  is  a  species  of  ichneumon  fly,  which  is  also  of  the  wasp  family. 
Soon  after  the  slug  fly  has  deposited  its  egg  on  the  leaf,  the  ichneumon 
deposits  its  egg  within  the  shell  of  the  former,  which  developing  to  a 
minute  grub  before  the  time  for  the  hatching  of  the  slug  worm,  feeds 
upon  the  embryo  slug,  passing  the  whole  period  of  its  existence  as  a 
worm,  and  even  undergoing  the  succeeding  transformation  through  the 
pupa  state,  within  the  smah1  space  afforded  by  the  egg  of  the  slug,  the 
natural  size  of  which  may  be  seen  at  a,  Fig.  58. 

"  Fig.  65  exhibits  the  ichneumon  fly  as  found  in  the  egg  of  the  pear- 
slug,  nearly  ready  to  emerge  as  a  perfect  insect. 

"  The  application,  at  the  proper  time,  of  lime  in  a  dry,  or  powdered 
state,  while  the  leaves  are  wet  with  rain  or  dew,  will  prove  effectual  in 
destroying  the  egg  before  it  is  hatched,  or  the  slug  during  the  time  of  its 
depredations.  If  the  number  of  trees  to  be  treated  is  large,  it  will  only 
be  necessary  to  apply  the  remedy  twice  during  the  season,  provided 
the  proper  stage  of  the  insect's  development  is  chosen.  This  should 
be  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  eggs  are  all  hatched,  which  is  usually 
about  the  first  of  July  with  the  first  brood,  and  the  first  of  September 
with  the  second  brood.  If  applied  earlier  than  the  times'  mentioned, 
some  of  the  eggs  will  not  have  hatched,  in  which  case  it  requires  much 
greater  care  and  a  larger  quantity  of  lime ;  or  if  applied  much  later, 
many  of  them  will  have  undergone  their  transformation  into  the  pupa 
state,  and  therefore  be  beyond  our  reach.  I  have  found  this  remedy 
always  efficacious,  and  even  plaster  of  Paris,  ashes,  or  dust  from  the 
road,  applied  to  the  slimy  coat  of  the  slug,  will  cause  it  to  sicken  and 
die."  "  A.  0.  MOORE." 

"NEW  YORK,  140  Fulton  Street,  Oct.,  1857." 

The  caterpillar,  canker-worm,  and  apple-worm, 
which  increase  in  size  and  number  with  such  rapidity, 
are  easily  destroyed  when  attacked  in  time.  The  web 
must  be  crushed  at  its  first  appearance.  The  best 
method  is  not  always  the  most  pleasant;  but  all  the 
operations  of  horticulture  are  not  equally  agreeable. 


CATERPILLAR CANKER-WORM — APPLE-WORM.         187 

A  thick  buckskin  glove  should  be  worn;  and  with  the 
hand  thus  protected,  the  nest  should  be  grasped  and 
crushed — being  careful  to  press  firmly  all  the  crevices 
of  the  bark  to  destroy  every  individual. 

There  is  but  one  method^  better,  and  this  is  to  look 
carefully  over  the  trees  several  times  after  the  leaves 
have  fallen ;  gather  every  leaf  curled  and  gummed 
to  the  tree,  and  every  circlet  of  whitish  eggs  attached 
to  a  limb,  and  put  them  in  the  fire. 

The  most  effective  and  convenient  allies  in  destroy- 
ing insects  are,  birds  and  dung-hill  fowls.  When  the 
latter  are  fed  at  distant  and  different  spots  about  the 
pear  grounds,  they  acquire  a  habit  of  wandering 
among  the  trees,  and  although  generally  shy  of 
attacking  caterpillars,  yet  their  quick  eyes  no  sooner 
detect  a  miller,  a  fly,  or  a  beetle,  about  to  lay  eggs  for 
an  innumerable  generation,  than  the  hapless  insect  is 
deposited .  in  the  crop  of  some  of  the  gallinacecB. 
"Wasps,  flies,  and  moths  are  the  parents  of  rapidly- 
increasing  tribes,  and  by  destroying  one  of  them,  we 
rid  ourselves  of  thousands.  Wide-mouthed  vials  con- 
taining molasses,  and  hung  in  the  branches  of  trees, 
will  catch  large  numbers :  small  bright  fires  made  in 
various  parts  of  the  fruit-grounds,  during  the  nights 
of  June  and  July,  will  attract  and  destroy  many. 


PAET  Yin.— YAKIETIES. 

CONDITIONS  WHICH   AFFECT    THE    QUALITY   OF  THE  FRUIT. 

GREAT  diversity  of  opinion  prevails  in  regard  to  the  excellence  of 
every  variety  of  the  Pear.  This  arises  from  the  different  character- 
istics of  the  fruit  when  modified  by  circumstances.  Some  of  the 
conditions  unfavorable  to  the  proper  development  of  the  fruit  are  : 

First.  The  fruit  of  some  varieties  is  small,  astringent  and 
insipid,  while  the  trees  are  young,  but  large,  delicious,  and  high- 
flavored,  when  the  trees  become  older. 

Second.  The  fruit  may  have  remained  too  long  upon  the  tree. 
Many  kinds  are  nearly  worthless  unless  picked  as  soon  as  the  stem 
will  cleave  easily  from  the  spur  without  breaking,  and  ripened 
with  protection  from  the  air  and  light.  They  then  become  nearly 
perfect. 

Third.  Some  varieties  are  only  second-rate  when  grown  on  the 
pear  stock,  but  when  grown  on  the  Quince,  are  ranked  as  high  as 
"  best." 

Fourth.  Soils  have  great  influence  on  the  quality  of  Pears , 
incompatibility  of  soil  often  ruining  the  fruit  of  the  best  varieties. 

Thus,  from  lack  of  knowledge  of  these  conditions,  many  falla- 
cious opinions  have  been  formed,  and  much  disappointment  has 
followed  the  attempts  to  cultivate  varieties  which,  though  "  first 
rate"  in  their  original  position,  in  other  places  do  not  find  their 
special  requirements. 

TERMS  RELATING  TO  THE  QUALITY,  SHAPE,  &C. 

Best,  Pears  that  are  of  fine  texture,  melting,  very  juicy,  and 
high  flavored  and  the  term  is  applied  only  to  those  that  possess 
all  the  qualities  denoted  by  buttery,  melting,  juicy,  and  high- 
flavored. 

(     188     ) 


QUALITIES   FOR  MARKET   CULTIVATION.  189 

Very  good,  denotes  varieties  that  possess  all  but  one  of  the  above 
qualities  in  a  high  degree. 

Good,  is  applied  to  those  that  lack  some  of  the  above  qualities, 
or  possess  one  or  two  of  them  in  only  a  moderate  degree. 

.Fair,  indicates  that  the  varieties  have  some  claim  to  attention, 
but  not  enough  to  entitle  it  to  a  high  rank. 

Poor,  designates  those  entirely  unworthy  of  cultivation. 

Pyriform,  denotes  the  fruit  with  the  small  end  at  the  stem,  or 
approaching  in  form  a  cone. 

Acute  Pyriform,  fruit  tapering  to  a  point  at  the  stem,  like  the 
Beurre  Bosc. 

Obtuse  Pyriform,  the  small  end  rather  blunt  at  the  stem,  like  the 
Bartlett. 

Depressed  Pyriform,  the  sides  immediately  below  the  stem 
sunken,  as  if  forming  an  incipient  neck. 

Long  Pyriform,  neck  very  long,  as  in  the  Dix. 

Obovate,  denotes  an  egg  shape,  like  that  of  the  Vergalieu. 

Turbinate,  is  roundish,  but  approaching  a  point  at  the  stem. 

Oblate,  flattened  at  the  ends  like  the  Bergamots. 

Pyramidal,  regularly  increasing  in  size  from  the  base  to  the  stem 

Large,  a  size  ranging  from  the  Bartlett  to  the  Duchesse. 

Small,  ranging  between  the  Seckel  and  Washington. 

Medium,  the  size  of  the  Lawrence  and  Vergalieu. 

Calyx,  the  flower  end,  or  the  leaves  of  the  flower  which  remain 
on  the  fruit. 

QUALITIES   REQUIRED   FOR   MARKET   CULTIVATION. 

In  this  selection  of  varieties,  it  has  been  the  writer's  purpose  to 
include  none  which  were  of  doubtful  value,  and  which  have  not 
been  proved,  by  the  most  ample  experience,  to  be  suited  to  general 
cultivation.  The  list  is  carefully  made  from  comparisons  of  the 
experience  of  the  best  pomologists,  as  well  as  of  ordinary  cultivat- 
ors, from  Maine  to  Georgia,  from  the  lists  of  Pomological 
Societies,  and  from  the  writer's  personal  experience  and  observation. 
The  rules  observed  in  the  formation  of  this  list  are : 

First .  The  tree  must  be  hardy,  able  to  withstand  severe  winters, 
a  strong,  vigorous  grower,  and  not  liable  to  crack  in  the  bark,  or 
to  blight. 


190  VARIETIES. 

Second.  The  fruit  must  be  of  fair  size,  and  if  not  of  first-rate 
quality,  must  be  large,  and  handsomely  colored.  The  only  excep- 
tions are  in  favor  of  the  long  known  and  popular  varieties. 

Third.  The  variety  must  be  prolific,  and  come  early  into  bear- 
ing. The  only  exceptions  are  those  admitted  by  the  next  rule. 

Fourth.  The  trees  must  have  considerable  longevity,  and  be  not 
easily  exhausted  by  overbearing. 

Fifth.  Of  the  varieties  grown  on  the  Quince,  only  those  are 
admitted  which  an  experience  of  ten  years,  at  least,  has  proved 
to  possess  great  affinity  for  that  stock,  to  acquire  thereby  higher 
flavor,  greater  size,  and  to  come  considerably  earlier  into  bearing. 

Sixth.  No  kind  is  admitted  upon  the  list,  whatever  may  be  its 
excellence  of  flavor,  size,  or  color,  if  it  cracks,  cankers,  or  rots  at 
the  core. 


VARIETIES  FOR  MARKET  CULTIVATION,  TO 
BE  GROWN  ON  PEAR  STOCKS. 

MOST  of  the  kinds  recommended  for  growing  on  pear-stocks  may 
be  grown  on  the  Quince :  but  as  their  fruit  is  not  materially  im- 
proved in  size  and  flavor,  and  as  they  sometimes  fail  on  that 
stock,  they  are  placed  in  the  list  for  pear-stocks. 


BARTLETT. 

Williams.  |  Williams'  Bon  Chriticn. 

FIB8T  TO   FIFTEENTH  8EPTEMBEB. 

While  this  beautiful  and  excellent  fruit  is  not  allowed  by  ama- 
teurs to  take  the  first  rank,  it  possesses  qualities  which  have  se- 
cured to  it  high  esteem,  and  have  made  it  the  most  popular  variety 
in  this  country,  since  the  decline  of  the  Vergalieu,  and  it  is  there- 
fore to  be  recommended  for  profitable  cultivation. 


FOE   MARKET   CULTIVATION ON   PEAK. 


191 


It  was  originally  found  in  Berkshire,  England,  in  1770,  and 
brought  to  Roxbury,  Mass.,  in  1797;  under  the  name  of  Williams' 

Bon  Chretien. 

Fig.  66. 


Both  in  France  and  England  it  was  but  little  esteemed,  and  it 


192  VARIETIES. 

affords  a  striking  instance  of  the  fallibility  of  any  standard  of  taste; 
for,  while  many  consider  it  unsurpassed,  not  a  few  regard  it  as 
inferior. 

The  chief  difficulty  in  growing  it  results  from  its  precocious  and 
too  abundant  fruitfulness.  The  tree  coming  into  bearing  at  four 
or  five  years  from  the  bud  on  its  own  roots,  is  often  the  first  time 
so  overloaded  with  fruit,  that  its  growth  is  checked  for  several 
years,  and  thus  it  fails  to  attain  fair  size  in  many  years. 

On  the  Quince;  the  Bartlett  is  the  most  objectionable  variety  on 
our  catalogue.  It  grows  vigorously  for  two  or  three  years,  till 
fruiting  commences,  and  then,  if  it  bears  abundantly,  it  perishes 
soon  after ;  and  even  if  carefully  managed,  and  fruit-thinned,  it 
rarely  attains  to  a  vigorous  condition.  The  natural  growth  of  the 
Bartlett,  unchecked  by  fruit-bearing,  is  strong  and  vigorous ;  the 
shoots  exhibit  a  peculiar  equality  of  size  throughout  their  entire 
length,  ending  abruptly  and  bluntly. 

As  a  market  pear,  it  has  no  superior,  taking  into  consideration 
all  its  qualities — its  early  bearing,  its  great  productiveness,  and 
regularity,  the  fair  size  and  bright  lemon  tint  of  its  fruit,  its  melt- 
ing, buttery  flavor,  and  its  universal  popularity.  The  fruit  pos- 
sesses a  peculiar  musky  aroma,  which  somewhat  affects  the  taste. 
The  pears  exhibit  a  remarkable  uniformity  of  excellence.  There 
is  not  that  inequality  in  the  product  of  a  tree,  that  is  found  in 
some  varieties — a  part  very  good  and  a  part  very  poor. 

The  fruit  may  be  picked  when  quite  green  and  hard,  trans- 
ported long  distances  without  injury,  and  still  ripen  with  perfect 
flavor  and  high  color.  The  Bartlett  has,  however,  some  defects. 
It  is  more  subject  to  blight  than  most  other  varieties — a  consequence 
of  its  strong,  succulent,  protracted  growth.  It  cannot  be  grown 
on  the  Quince  with  success.  Its  fruit  ripens  when  other  fruit  is 
most  abundant ;  all  the  late  summer  and  early  autumn  fruits  dis- 
puting the  market  with  it.  But  it  has  the  advantage  of  producing 
good  crops  every  year. 

The  French  make  it  succeed  much  better  than  others  on  the 
Quince,  and  they  propagate  it  on  that  stock  largely.  Having  a 
large  number  grown  on  the  Quince  sent  me  one  spring  from  France, 
by  mistake,  I  planted  one  hundred  and  fifty — then  ordinary-sized 


FOE   MARKET   CULTIVATION ON   PEAR. 


193 


nursery  trees — closely  together,  and  allowed  them  to  fruit  the 
next  year.  They  produced  thirteen  bushels  of  handsome  fruit, 
which  I  thought  compensated  for  the  death  of  half  of  the  trees  the 
next  season. 


BELLE  EPINE  DUMAS. 


Epine  Dumas. 
Dumas. 
Du  Eachois. 


Dumas  de  Epchefort 
"       de  Limoges. 
"       de  Eochechouait 


OCTOBER. 

Fig.  67. 


194:  VARIETIES. 

This  pear,  when  more  fully  known,  must  attain  a  very  great 
popularity.  Its  great  beauty  is  only  equalled  by  its  excellence. 
The  tree  is  vigorous,  hardy,  and  productive,  and  has  the  remark- 
able peculiarity  of  producing  its  fruit  in  the  centre  around  the 
body,  seldom  bearing  on  wood  less  than  three  years  old. 

The  fruit  is  of  medium  size,  obovate  pyriform,  very  smooth- 
skinned,  and  free  from  stain  or  rust,  ripening  to  a  light,  but  rich 
greenish  yellow,  and  full  of  a  sparkling,  champagne-flavored  juice, 
melting,  but  not  quite  buttery. 

The  number  of  its  synonyms  is  indicative  of  its  wide-spread 
reputation  in  Europe,  and  we  believe  it  will  excel  in  this  country, 
as  it  is  one  of  the  very  few  varieties  that  have  improved  by  im- 
migration. 

On  the  Quince,  it  is  a  stocky,  vigorous  grower,  but  forms  the 
weakest  union  of  all  the  varieties,  not  excepting  the  Bartlett. 
The  pear-stock  is  decidedly  preferable  for  this  variety.  I  have 
not  been  able  to  detect  any  great  change  in  the  flavor  produced 
by  growing  on  Quince,  but  it  thus  comes  earlier  to  bearing;  and  is 
more  productive  while  young. 


BELLE  LUCRATIVE. 


Bergamotte  Lnc. 
Beurrfe  Luc. 
Bergamotte  Fierce. 


Seigneur  d'Esperin. 
Fondante  d'Automne. 
Groseilliere. 


OCTOBER. 


A  prolific  variety,  of  great  beauty,  and  of  such  excellence  of 
flavor  as  to  obtain  the  highest  praise  from  all  pomologists.  The 
beauty  of  the  fruit,  well  exposed  to  the  sun,  excites  extravagant 
admiration.  The  rich  gold  ground  is  irregularly  mottled  and 
striped  with  red  and  purplish  shades.  The  fruit,  somewhat  vari- 
able, has  a  mean  size,  about  equal  to  the  Virgalieu :  its  shape  is 
uniformly  roundish  obovate,  quite  broad  at  base  in  proportion  to  its 
height.  The  calyx  is  rather  small,  set  in  a  broad,  shallow  basin; 
the  stem  is  little  more  than  an  inch  in  length,  stout,  often  fleshy. 

I  think  this  fruit  combines  the  highest  excellences  of  flavor  and 
texture.  It  is  entirely  melting,  with  a  sugary,  vinous  flavor,  and 
most  abundant  juice,  a  thin  skin,  and  small  core. 


FOB  MARKET  CULTIVATION — ON  PEAR. 


195 


Some  pomologists  complain  of  its  slow  growth  and  unhealthi- 
ness  on  the  Quince ;  hut  when  properly  treated,  I  have  been  abun- 
dantly satisfied  with  its  vigor  and  healthfulness. 

Fig.  68. 


The  fruit  is  borne  in  clusters,  the  tree  is  very  productive,  thin- 
ning being  often  necessary  to  prevent  injury  from  over-bearing. 


196 


VARIETIES. 


BLOODGOOD. 
LAST    OF    JULY. 

This  variety  originated  on  Long  Island,  and  was  named  from 
the  proprietor  of  the  Bloodgood  Nurseries,  and  considered  by  him 
a  seedling. 

It  is  the  most  gene-  Fig.  69. 

rally  liked  and  cultivat- 
ed of  the  early  pears, 
being  one  of  the  very 
few  that  have  high  fla- 
vor. Some,  however, 
give  a  higher  place  to 
the  Julienne,  the  Ros- 
tiezer,  and  Dearborn's 
Seedling;  but,  after  a 
comparison  of  the  excel- 
lences of  all,  I  consider 
the  Bloodgood  the  most 
profitable  market  early 
pear.  The  tree  is  vig- 
orous and  hardy,  of  a 
peculiar  stout,fine-look- 
ing  growth,  with  short 
joints,  and  a  reddish 
brown  color.  It  comes 
into  bearing  early,  and 
is  productive. 

The  fruit  must  be  ga- 
thered before  ripening,  and  matured  under  cover.  It  is  small, 
and  of  a  thick  turbinate  form.  The  skin  becomes  yellow  in  ripen- 
ing, with  russet  on  one  side.  Stem  moderately  long,  curved, 
slender,  and  brown,  the  flesh  extending  up  upon  it.  It  is  quite 
melting  when  well  ripened,  with  the  most  perfumed  and  aromatio 
flavor  of  all  early  pears. 


FOR   MARKET    CULTIVATION ON    PEAR. 


1U7 


Fig.  70. 


BUFFAM. 
GOTO     B     E     E  . 

It  seems  unaccountable,  that  so  valuable  a  variety  as  this 
should  be  so  much 
neglected.  I  am 
acquainted  with  an 
orchard  of  this  fruit 
that  has  borne  reg- 
ularly for  more  than 
twenty  years,  yield- 
ing enormous  crops. 
This  variety  is 
native  of  Rhode  Is- 
land :  it  has  a  cha- 
racteristic, upright 
growth,  the  branch- 
es shooting  up  al- 
most parallel  with 
the  body. 

The  fruit  is  beau- 
tiful, on  one  side  of 
a  dull  red.  shading 
to  yellowish  green 
on  the  other  ;  ordi- 
narily, somewhat 
smaller  than  the 
Vergalieu,  —  but 
when  thinned,  of 
equal  size,  growing 
in  long,  rope-like 

clusters  ;  and  when  in  perfection,  delicious  with  abundant  sweet 
juice,  peculiarly  aromatic — often  as  good,  I  think,  as  the  Seckel 
or  Vergalieu,  but  tending  to  mealiness  when  over-ripe. 


198 


VARIETIES. 


COLUMBIA. 

NOVEMBEE    TO     JAHUABT, 
Fig.TL 


This  variety  originated  in  Westchester  County,  N.  Y.      Sup- 
posed  to  be  from  seedlings  planted  by  the  French  Huguenots.     Its 


FOE   MARKET   CULTIVATION ON   PEAK.  199 

growth  is  upright,  not  unlike  the  Dix,  shoots  strong  and  vigorous, 
of  a  yellowish  brown.  The  tree  is  hardy,  grows  rapidly,  and  is 
very  productive.  On  account  of  the  long  slim  stem,  and  the  weight 
of  the  pears,  they  are  liable  to  he  blown  off,  before  maturing,  by 
high  winds.  The  trees  should,  consequently,  be  trained  low. 

The  fruit  is  large,  obovate  pyriform,  but  broadest  in  the  centre. 
The  skin  is  quite  smooth,  of  a  dusky  green  before  ripening,  after- 
wards of  a  greenish  yellow,  and  often  golden.  Stem  set  somewhat 
to  one  side. 

The  fruit  is  very  juicy,  of  rich,  pleasant  flavor,  when  well  ripened 
— requiring  less  care  in  ripening  than  most  others,  and  although 
not  melting,  and  often  coarse,  is  still  one  of  the  best  market  varie- 
ties. Its  keeping  qualities  constitute  an  important  excellence.  I 
have  seen  this  fruit  in  the  windows  of  fruit-shops  as  late  as  the 
middle  of  January,  ripening  up  to  nearly  first-rate  flavor  without 
care. 

It  is  a  favorite  with  marketmen,  on  account  of  remaining  so 
long  in  perfection,  its  freedom  from  rot,  its  fair  skin,  and  the  high 
price  obtained  for  it  near  the  holidays.  At  that  season,  it  is  often 
sold  for  two  dollars  per  dozen.  While  there  are  many  winter 
pears  of  higher  quality,  the  Columbia  has  hitherto  stood  the 
strong  test  of  pecuniary  profit,  under  which  better  fruits  have 
entirely  failed. 


200 


VARIETIES. 


Double  Philippe. 
Beurre  de  Misocle 


DOYENNE  BOUSSOUCK. 

! 


Nouvelle  Boassouck 
New  Boussouck 


This  variety,  imported  from  France  by  \V.M.  KEMIICK  in  1841, 
has  attained  a  high  rank,  and  promises  to  fill,  in  some  measure, 
the  gap  caused  by  the  failure  of  the  Vergalieu. 

It  is  a  strong  and  healthy  grower,  but  not  one  of  the  most  vigor- 
ous. It  is,  however,  a  most  constant  bearer,  and  very  productive. 
It  succeeds  well  on  the  Quince  :  but  its  flavor  is  not  much  improved 
by  it,  as  far  as  my  experience  extends  ;  and  as  it  is  an  early  bearer 
on  the  Pear,  it  is  not  of  great  advantage  to  grow  it  on  the  former. 
The  fruit  resembles  the  Vergalieu  in  form  and  color,  acquiring  a 


FOR    MARKET    CULTIVATION ON    PEAR. 


201 


bright  lemon  yellow,  often  with  a  fine  blush.     It  is  considerably 
larger  than  the  Vergalieu. 

The  skin  is  somewhat  rough,  occasionally,  and  the  form  often 
slightly  irregular,  like  the  Duchesse.  Flesh,  buttery,  very  juicy, 
and  of  high  flavor ;  texture  sometimes  a  little  coarse. 


FLEMISH  BEAUTY. 


Fondante  des  Bois. 
Beurre"  des  Bois. 
Bern-re"  Spence. 


Belle  de  Flanders. 
Bergamotte  de  Flanders. 
Imperatrice  de  France. 


LATE  SEPTEMBER  TO  MIDDLE  OCTOBKB. 


Fig.  73. 


202  VAEIETTES. 

The  merits  of  this  variety  are :  a  strong,  luxuriant  growth, 
beautiful  shape,  forming  a  perfect,  but  rather  open,  pyramid,  with 
but  little  shortening  in ;  fruit  of  large  size  and  fine  shape,  beau- 
tiful color,  melting  texture,  rich  honeyed  flavor,  perfumed  aroma, 
and  great  abundance  of  juice — thus  being  one  of  the  most  luscious 
and  agreeable  of  fruits. 

It  decays,  however,  soon  after  ripening,  and  cannot  be  left  on 
the  tree  as  long  as  most  others.  It  requires  to  be  gathered  before 
the  stem  will  readily  cleave  from  the  spur,  and  while  quite  taste- 
less and  hard. 

The  fruit  is  very  regularly  obovate  ;  skin,  a  dark  green,  chang- 
ing to  pale  yellow  on  one  side,  with  often  a  crimson  blush,  and  to 
rich  russet  on  the  other.  Stem  slender,  about  one  inch  long,  set 
in  very  regular  but  shallow  cavity.  This  variety  requires  a  good 
and  deep  soil,  without  which  it  is  apt  to  be  inferior,  and  shy  of 
bearing.  Contrary  to  the  experience  of  some,  I  have  found  this 
variety  grows  well  on  the  Quince,  and  I  have  none  that  excels  it 
in  luxuriance  and  in  beauty  of  shape  without  pruning.  It  has  not, 
however,  reached  an  age  to  sufficiently  prove  its  productiveness. 

This  Pear  is  a  great  favorite  with  pomologists.  It  occupies  a 
preeminent  place  at  most  horticultural  exhibitions.  Specimens 
are  often  exhibited  measuring  thirteen  to  fifteen  inches  in  circum- 
ference, weighing  a  pound  and  upwards,  of  great  beauty  of  form 
and  color.  The  shape  of  this  Pear  varies  less  than  any  other 
variety.  Dr.  GRANT,  an  eminent  horticulturist,  gathered  from  a 
tree,  eight  years  planted,  400  pears,  which  sold  for  $30. 

At  the  Exhibition  for  1857,  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural 
Society,  the  specimens  of  Flemish  Beauty  shown  would  average 
larger  than  those  exhibited  of  the  Duchesse  d'Angouleme. 

LAWRENCE. 


This  is  a  native  variety,  and  ranks  high  with  almost  all  culti- 
vators. It  originated  on  the  Lawrence  Farm,  Flushing,  L.  I., 
and  is  considered  a  hybrid  of  the  St.  Germain  and  Vergalieu.  The 
tree  is  hardy,  tolerably  vigorous,  handsomely  shaped,  and  with  a 


FOR   MAKKET   CULTIVATION ON   PEAK.  203 

little  pains  in  pruning,  acquires  a  very  regular  conical  form.     A. 
characteristic  of  its  growth  is,  that  the  branches  grow  nearly  at 

No.  74 


right  angles  to  the  stem,  and  often  nearly  opposite  to  each  other, 
giving  an  open  head  and  regular  shape.  The  wood  is  not  stout, 
nor  yet  slender  ]  it  is  of  a  pale  brown  with  a  slight  yellowish  shade, 
occasionally  armed  with  imperfect  thorns.  This  variety  is  remark- 
ably free  from  diseases  and  defects.  I  have  never  known  an  in- 
stance of  blight  or  of  cracking  of  the  bark,  or  of  that  obstinate 
refusal  to  bear  sometimes  met  with  in  other  kinds. 

The  fruit  much  resembles  the  Vergalieu  in  size,  and  in  appear- 
ance when  ripe,  though  not  quite  so  golden ;  but  its  rich,  juicy, 


204 


VARIETIES. 


aromatic  flavor,  melting  and  buttery  texture,  rival  that  famous 
pear  in  its  perfection.  It  is  peculiarly  adapted  either  to  late 
keeping  or  early  ripening,  according  as  it  is  differently  treated — 
being  capable  of  being  brought  to  perfection  any  time  between 
Nov.  1st  and  March  1st.  This  much  increases  its  value  as  a 
market  pear.  It  brings  the  highest  prices,  and  is  much  sought 
for  by  fruit  dealers.  Mr.  JOHN  D.  WOLFE  and  Mr.  JOHN  H. 
FERRIS,  of  Throg's  Neck,  cultivate  it  in  large  quantities,  and  great 
perfection,  equaling  the  best  Vergalieus  in  size,  and  some  speci- 
mens much  excelling  them. 


No.  75, 


S  E  C  K  E  L  . 

FIRST     SEPTEMBER     TO      FIB8T     NOVEMBER. 

This  variety  has  won  and  retained  the  highest  popularity,  iij 
spite  of  the  inferior  size  of  its  fruit,  its  slow  growth,  and  its  tardi- 
ness in  coming  into  bearing.  It  is  the  smallest  of  the  pears 
that  hold  any  place  in  popular  esteem,  and  the  trees  on  pear- 
stocks,  without  extra  treatment,  are  often  fifteen  years  in  pro- 
ducing their  first  fruit. 

This  variety  originated 
near  Philadelphia,  and  was  a 
chance  seedling.  Some  Eu- 
ropean Pomologists  have  pro- 
nounced it  the  most  highly 
flavored  of  all  pears,  in  which 
opinion  I  by  no  means  concur. 
Its  flavor  is  so  sweet  as  to 
be  sickening  to  many,  and  it 
lacks  the  highest  essentials 
of  sparkling,  sprightly  juice. 
The  tree  is  hardy,  and 
everywhere  free  from  blight, 
even  where  all  others  are 
affected.  It  is  trained  to  a 
pyramidal  form  easily,  with- 
out much  pruning.  The  wood 
is  short-jointed,  rather  stout, 


/ 


FOR   MAEKET   CULTIVATION ON   PE1E. 


205 


of  an  olive  brown.  The  fruit  is  obovate,  brownish  ^reen  at  first, 
changing  to  a  dull  yellow,  with  a  reddish  russet  cheek ;  stem  not 
very  long;  calyx  set  in  a  very  shallow  basin.  It  has  the  merit  of 
long  keeping,  while  ripe,  and  maybe  ripened  anytime  during  Sep- 
tember and  October.  Tn  collections,  I  would  advise  to  plant  a 
few  Seckels  on  Quince,  for  trial.  It  has  a  tendency  to  overbear, 
when  of  considerable  age,  and.  in  consequence,  the  fruit  becomes 
very  small. 


WINTER  NELIS. 


Bonne  de  Malines. 
Nellis  d'Hiver. 


Colmar  Nclis. 
Beurre  de  Malines. 


DECEMBER 


Fig.  76. 


206  VARIETIES. 

I  am  decidedly  of  the  opinion  that  there  is  no  Pear  which  excels 
this  in  all  the  good  qualities  of  a  fruit.  There  are  but  two  defects, 
and  these  are  not  serious.  Its  appearance  is  uninviting,  much 
resembling  a  russet  apple,  and  the  tree  is  a  straggling,  irregular 
grower,  its  shoots  being  thin,  twining,  and  sparsely  set.  Accord- 
ingly, nurserymen  sometimes  work  it  high  up,  on  some  free  grow- 
ing variety,  to  form  standards  •  but  I  have  found  no  difficulty  in 
forming  tolerably-shaped  pyramids  by  summer  pruning. 

It  is  hardy,  with  tough,  close-grained  wood,  enabling  it  to 
endure  extremes ;  is  a  moderately  rapid  grower,  comes  into  bearing 
early,  and  is  very  productive  j  has  an  open  habit  unless  shortened 
in  ;  leaves  small ;  wood  of  a  light  yellowish  brown. 

It  has  been  much  condemned  on  the  Quince,  and  I  think  some- 
what  unjustly.  I  have  found  that,  on  this  stock,  it  makes  a  vigor- 
ous growth,  a  very  firm  union,  and  fruits  well. 

The  fruit  is  of  medium  size,  and  in  the  most  favorable  condi- 
tions quite  large ;  is  of  a  light  grayish  russet ;  roundish,  apple- 
shaped  ;  melting,  buttery,  sweet,  high  flavored,  and  very  juicy. 
To  obtain  it  of  large  size,  the  fruit  must  be  much  thinned,  as  the 
tree  is  greatly  inclined  to  overbearing.  It  grows  in  long  clusters, 
resembling  ropes  of  onions.  It  often  ripens  by  the  middle  of 
November,  but  by  care  in  preservation,  may  be  kept  until  Christ- 
mas. This  variety,  Mr.  DOWNING  says,  holds  the  same  rank 
among  winter  fruits  that  the  Seckel  does  among  the  autumn. 


FOB  MARKET   CULTIVATION ON   QUINCE.  207 


VARIETIES   THAT  MAY  BE  GROWN  ON 
THE  QUINCE. 

IN  the  first  glow  of  satisfaction  with  which  Pomologists  received 
the  announcement  that  the  much-coveted  pear,  which  demanded 
the  care  of  two  generations  to  witness  its  fruiting,  could  be  grown 
successfully  upon  the  Quince,  every  variety  of  pear  was  grown 
on  every  variety  of  quince,  and  the  consequence  was,  a  disappoint- 
ment— whose  reflux,  for  a  few  years,  seemed  to  threaten  the  very 
existence  of  quince-rooted  pear  trees,  and  cause  their  extermin- 
ation. 

It  has  now  become  fairly  settled,  that  while  all  varieties  of  Pear 
will  exist  upon  the  quince-root,  but  few  will  bear  the  test  of  the 
following  rules,  for  growing  the  Pear  upon  that  stock. 

1 .  The  variety  must  have  such  an  affinity  for  the  Quince,  as  to 
grow  equally  well  upon  it  and  the  pear-root — which  can  only  be 
known  by  extensive  experiments,  by  persons  in  different  localities. 

2.  The  sort  of  pear  must  be  very  considerably  earlier  in  coming 
into  bearing  than  upon  its  own  roots — in  the  case  of  the  Bartlett. 
but  little  would  be  gained  by  its  possessing  an  affinity  with  the 
Quince,  as  it  is  sufficiently  precocious  in  its  fruiting  to  dwarf  the 
tree  on  its  own  stock. 

3.  The  Pear  should  be 'somewhat  improved  in  size,  flavor,  and 
perhaps,  in  some  varieties,  in  productiveness. 

When  all  of  these  conditions  are  fulfilled,  it  will  be  found  that 
comparatively  few  varieties  imperatively  demand  the  quince-stock 
for  their  perfection.  At  the  same  time,  almost  all  can  be  grown 
upon  it,  by  complying  with  the  conditions  for  their  treatment,  in 
planting,  cultivation,  and  fruiting,  viz.  : 

To  bury  the  Quince  some  inches  below  the  surface. 

To  cultivate  the  ground  thoroughly,  and  supply  sufficient  nour- 
ishment •  and 

To  carefully  prevent  overbearing  when  very  young. 


208 


VARIETIES. 


BEURRE  D:ANJOU. 
Nee  Plus  Meuris.  |  Ne  Plus  Mourla. 

Fig.  77. 


For  this  noble  Pear,  we  are  indebted  to  Col.  MARSHALL  P.  WILDER, 
who  imported  it  from  France.  Notwithstanding  the  high  claims 
made  for  it  by  him.  it  has  not  only  met,  but  promises  to  exceed  our 
expectations  of  it.  Nothing  could  be  finer  than  the  sight  of  the 
specimen  trees,  ten  or  twelve  years  old,  in  Col.  WILDKR'S  ground, 
loaded  with  large  and  fair  fruit,  as  T  saw  them  in  the  fall  of  1857. 

It  is  a  most  prolific  bearer,  and,  from  its  size,  late  keeping,  and 
the  hardy  growth  of  the  tree,  promises  to  become  one  of  the  best 
market  fruits.  Its  period  of  ripening  is  usually  assigned  to  Octo- 


VARIETIES.  209 

her ;  but  some  specimens  sent  me  by  Mr.  WILDER  were  sound, 
and  not  quite  ripe,  when  cut  on  the  10th  of  December.  I  have, 
however,  seen  it  ripen,  for  the  most  part,  near  the  last  of  October 
to  the  middle  of  November. 

The  tree  makes  a  peculiarly  stout,  upright  growth,  the  branches 
of  a  dark,  purplish  brown,  starting  out  from  the  trunk  at  a  con- 
siderable angle,  but  immediately  growing  upright,  and  presenting 
the  appearance  of  being  nearly  parallel  with  the  main  stem.  The 
fruit  is  roundish  obovate,  often  considerably  larger,  upon  one  side, 
and  curving  to  the  other,  with  a  short,  straightish  stem.  The  flesh 
is  quite  yellowish,  buttery,  and  with  a  very  rich,  sprightly,  sub-acid 
flavor.  The  pear  must  be  marked  lest. 


.E    SUPERFI.V. 
O  0  T  O  B  E  li—  NOVEMBER. 

The  Beurre  Superfin  is  a  beautiful  Pear,  of  large  size,  which, 
although  comparatively  new,  has  received  the  unqualified  appro- 
bation of  all  pomologists,  as  possessing  all  the  nice  requisites  to 
entitle  it  to  rank  as  first-rate.  The  tree  is  vigorous,  and  hand- 
somely shaped,  and  quite  early  prolific  on  pear  or  quince-stock, 
and  not  liable  to  any  of  the  serious  qualifications  which  modify 
our  praise  of  other  varieties v  The  fruit,  when  fit  for  gathering,  is 
of  a  deep  pea-green,  resembling  the  Glout  Morceau ;  and  though 
ordinarily  ripe  late  in  October,  with  care  will  keep  to  the  first 
of  December.  When  ripening,  it  changes  to  a  rich  yellow,  and 
has  the  rather  uncommon  virtue  of  remaining  in  a  condition  of 
excellence  for  several  days  after  ripening.  It  is  of  the  most  but- 
tery, melting  texture,  and  the  abundance  of  rich,  sugary  juice,  is 
a  constant  source  of  surprise.  It  is  very  regular  and  constant  in 
its  shape,  of  a  slightly  turbinate  and  obovate  shape.  This  pear 
will  undoubtedly  attain  a  high  popularity,  to  which  the  hardiness, 
productiveness,  and  beauty  of  the  tree,  and  the  excellence  of  the 
fruit,  richly  entitle  it. 

It  originated  at  Angers,  in  the  grounds  of  M.  GOUBALT. 


210 


FOR  MARKET  CULTIVATION ON   QUINCE. 


BEURRE  DIEL. 


Benrrfe  Royal, 
Beurr^  Melon, 
Beurre  Magnifique, 
Beurre  Incomparable, 
Buerre  de  Trois  Tours, 
Beun-6  Melonde  de  Kops, 


Celeste, 

Dillon, 

Florimond, 

Dorothee  Eoyal, 

Diel, 

Gros  Dillon, 


Fig.  7& 


VAEIETIES.  211 

This  noble  Pear  is  one  of  the  few  hardy  and  profitable  varieties 
produced  by  artificial  cultivation  or  design.  It  is  a  seedling  of  VAN 
MONS,  named  in  honor  of  his  friend,  Dr.  DIEL  ;  and  will  preserve 
the  memory  of  the  latter  longer  than  any  act  of  his  own  busy  and  hon- 
orable life.  It  is  one  of  the  most  vigorous  varieties  in  its  growth, 
and  is  perfectly  successful  on  the  Quince  ;  and  like  the  Duchesse,  its 
flavor  is  greatly  improved  by  that  stock.  On  pear-roots,  or  when 
grown  on  cold  soils,  or  while  the  trees  are  very  young,  the  fruit  is  apt 
to  be  astringent  and  coarse ;  and  I  have  known  excellent  cultivators, 
unaware  of  its  demands,  to  regraft  the  Diel  trees  with  inferior 
varieties.  While  young,  it  is  a  shy  bearer ;  and  when  in  full  bearing, 
the  fruit  is  so  regularly  distributed  through  the  tree  that  thinning 
is  seldom  necessary.  The  fruit  is  abundant  in  juice,  of  rich  sub- 
acid  flavor,  half-melting,  somewhat  coarse-grained  near  the  core. 
The  skin  is  thick,  and  somewhat  astringent,  and  should  be  removed 
before  the  fruit  is  eaten.  It  is  obtuse  pyriforrn  in  shape,  of  a  russet 
lemon  yellow •  stem  a  little  more  than  an  inch  long.  Its  period 
of  ripening  may  be  prolonged  from  1st  October  to  December  by 
picking  early,  and  packing  in  close  boxes  in  dry,  cool  rooms.  It 
needs  more  care  in  ripening  than  some  others.  The  shoots  are  a 
dark  brown,  tinged  with  gray ;  inclined  to  twist  with  abrupt 
curves.  Vigorous  pruning  is  necessary  to  produce  well-shaped 
pyramids. 

In  the  grounds  of  Mr.  WINCHESTER,  of  New  Haven,  trees  of  this 
variety,  six  or  seven  years  old,  which  were  models  of  beauty  in 
shape,  produced  a  crop  of  fruit  in  1856,  of  which  very  few  speci- 
mens weighed  less  than  fourteen  ounces,  and  a  considerable  num- 
ber more  than  a  pound. 

At  one  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Exhibitions,  twelve 
Beurre  Diel  Pears  were  shown  which  weighed  fourteen  pounds ; 
and  Mr.  BARRY  exhibited  four  of  the  same  variety,  raised  in  Iowa, 
which  weighed  nearly  five  pounds. 


212  FOB   MAKKET   CULTIVATION — ON   QUINCE. 

DUCHESSE  D'ANGOULEME. 
Des  Eparronais.  |  Eezenas. 

FIEST     OCTOBEE     TO      FIFTEENTH       NOVEMBEE. 

This  peerless  fruit  must  be  crowned  as  The  Queen  of  Pears. 
Like  its  patroness,  the  daughter  of  the  unfortunate  Louis  XVI.,  it 
was  by  narrow  chances  it  escaped  the  axe.  Near  Angers.  Mons. 

LE  BARON  one  morning  discovered  his  tenant  engaged  in 

digging  around  a  fine  thrifty  pear  tree — a  chance  seedling  in  a 
hedge — and  on  questioning,  the  Baron  found  it  was  for  the  purpose 
of  exterminating  it,  root  and  branch.  "  This  tree,  Mons.  Le  BARON, 
for  twenty  years  bears  no  fruit."  t;  No  matter,"  replied  Mons., 
'•  it  is  a  good  thing,  to  have  cut  those  roots  there  :  it  will  now  bear 
fruit;  fill  up  the  trench,  and  we  shall  see."  This  rough  root- 
pruning  fulfilled  the  wise  Baron's  prophecy,  and  the  succeeding 
summer  saw  it  loaded  with  that  queen  of  fruits.  But  though 
royal,  the  beautiful  Pear  was  still  uncrowned. 

One  day.  the  daughter  of  Louis  XVI.,  was  to  pass  through 
Lyons,  and  its  inhabitants  deputed  a  Committee,  of  which  our 
friend  Mons.  LE  ROY  was  one,  to  receive  her  appropriately. 
Nine  fair  maidens  presented  the  Duchesse  with  golden  salvers, 
on  which  lay  heaped  the  more  precious  fruit,  and  begged  her  to 
bestow  upon  it  her  name — and  the  pear  now  recognized  as  the 
crowning  glory  of  all  fruits,  was  thenceforward  known  as  the 
Duchesse  d'Angouleme.  There  are  some  who  think  the  pear  the 
more  royal  of  the  two. 

It  is  by  far  the  largest  of  table-fruits;  of  rich,  aromatic  flavor; 
melting,  though  tending  to  a  coarse  fibre,  near  the  core,  when 
badly  grown  and  ripened.  Very  juicy,  and  keeping  long  after 
being  sufficiently  ripe  to  eat. 

The  tree  is  somewhat  tender  in  very  cold  winters  where  the 
thermometer  sinks  to  20°  or  more  below  zero;  but  hardy  and 
strong  wooded,  and  very  thrifty,  stocky  growth  on  soils  of  moderate 
fertility,  and  prefers  a  rich,  sandy  loam  to  produce  ils  highest 
excellence.  The  fruit  is  often  coarse  and  tasteless  on  the  pear- 
fctock :  but  both  tree  and  fruit  seem  the  most  completely  fitted  for 


DUCHESSE  D'ANGOULEME. 


VARIETIES.  213 

the  quince-stock  of  all  pears.  Grown  on  this,  the  size  is  vastly 
increased,  the  flavor  and  texture  improved,  and  the  low  structure 
prevents  these  great  fruits  from  being  blown  off,  while  the  bud 
unites  with  the  quince-stock  with  so  great  firmness,  that  few  trees 
of  this  variety  ever  fracture  at  the  graft,  and  all  seem  to  grow 
with  as  much  vigor  as  on  the  pear  stock.  It  must  be  said,  how- 
ever, that,  like  other  royal  personages,  it  does  not  produce  great 
numbers  of  fruit,  at  least  when  young,  though  I  have  often  seen 
on  rich  soils,  trees  loaded  as  heavily  as  any  other  variety.  The 
fruit  must  be  well  thinned,  the  tree  severely  pruned,  and  the  soil 
rich.  The  wood  is  of  a  light  yellow,  tending  to  a  reddish  bloom 
on  the  sunny  side  of  the  young  growth.  The  tree  is  not  very 
regular  in  its  shape,  but  endures  severe  pruning  well. 

Specimens  of  this  Pear,  weighing  two  pounds  and  a  half,  have 
been  produced  in  California;  and  one  which  weighed  two  and  a 
quarter  pounds  was  raised  by  Dr.  WARD,  of  Newark,  N.  J.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  profitable  market  varieties,  the  largest  fruits  selling 
from  two  shillings  to  a  dollar  each,  in  the  shops  of  Broadway.  I 
have  picked  Duchesse  weighing  twenty-one  ounces,  from  trees 
received  from  France  in  the  preceding  spring,  or  seven  months 
previously. 


214:  FOB  MARKET   CULTIVATION — ON   QUINCE. 


EASTER  BEURRE. 

Doyenn<S  d'Hiver,  I  Doyenne  de  Printempa, 

Belle  d'lxelles,  Seigneur  d'Hiver, 

Berg,  de  la  Penticdte,  Winter  Beurre-, 

Beurre1  d'Austerlitz. 

MAECH     AND     APRIL. 


Fig.  79. 


This  late  keeping,  but  rather  inconstant  fruit,  has  of  late  years 
received  extraordinary  attention.  It  is  imported  in  considerable 
quantities  every  spring  by  the  fruit-sellers,  who  obtain  in  March 
and  April  enormous  prices  for  it.  It  has  thus  far  proved  quite 


VARIETIES.  215 

uncertain  in  this  country,  but  as  far  as  i  can  learn,  its  failure  is 
the  result  of  neglect  of  thinning  and  improper  treatment  in  ripen- 
ing. The  French  greatly  excel  us  in  both  these  processes,  and 
the  imported  pears  of  this  variety  are  almost  invariably  fine. 

It  should  be  understood  and  remembered  that  winter  pears  must 
acquire  a  stock  of  more  concentrated  juice  than  the  autumn  or 
summer  varieties  ]  the  sap  must  be  richer  in  the  sugar-producing 
principle,  and  if  more  fruit  is  left  on  the  tree  than  the  roots  and 
leaves  can  supply  with  the  necessary  elements,  the  consequence  is 
apparent.  Second,  that  all  the  juice  contained  in  the  fruit  at  the 
time  of  picking,  is  necessary  to  complete  the  chemical  change  of 
ripening,  so  that,  in  proportion  as  the  fruit  loses  its  water,  its  dry 
elements  lose  their  power  of  uniting  and  producing  a  high  flavor. 
From  these  facts,  it  will  be  perceived,  that  unless  all  the  juice  of 
a  winter  pear  is  preserved  by  artificial  means,  it  will  be  impossible 
to  ripen  it  with  any  degree  of  excellence,  although  the  fruit  is 
medium  sized,  seldom  reaching  ten  ounces.  It  has  been  sold  in 
New  York  as  high  as  twelve  dollars  a  dozen ;  but  the  more  ordi- 
nary price  for  good  specimens  is  three  dollars  per  dozen.  Its  flesh 
is  white,  and  very  juicy,  buttery,  and  melting,  when  well  ripened. 
It  is  obtuse  pyriform,  often  a  little  flattened,  dark  green,  sometimes 
reddened  on  the  cheek,  and  acquiring  but  a  faint  yellow  in  ripen- 
ing. It  requires  a  longer  season  than  that  of  the  Eastern  States 
to  come  to  highest  perfection.  Its  season  is  March  and  April ; 
occasionally.  May  and  June.  The  tree  is  a  hardy,  vigorous  grower ; 
bark,  a  peculiar  reddish  brown ;  shoots,  stocky,  tending  to  upright 
growth.  It  is  well  adapted  to  the  Quince,  on  which  it  makes  a 
strong  growth,  with  much  improved  fruit. 

My  recent  experience  is,  that  the  Doyenne  d'Alenpon  and  Beurre 
d'Hiver  Nouveau  will  prove  greatly  superior  to  this  for  general 
cultivation.  But  it  is  too  early  to  speak  decisively. 


216  FOB   MARKET   CULTIVATION ON    QUINCE. 


GLOUT  MORCEAU. 


Glout  Morccnu, 
Colmar  d'lliver, 


Beurre  d'Uardenpont, 

Beurre  d'Aremberg  (erroneously). 


DECEMBER     TO      JANUARY. 

Fig.  80. 


This  excellent  pear  is  of  Flemish  origin,  its  name  signifying 
"  greedy  morsel,"  and  though  plain  and  unattractive  in  appear- 


VARIETIES.  217 

ance,  its  nobler  qualities  make  it  a  favorite  whenever  grown.  Its 
reputation  has  sometimes  suffered  by  being  confounded  with  the 
Beurre  d'Aremberg,  a  very  inferior  and  dissimilar  variety.  I 
have  often  received  it  from  France  under  the  latter  name.  The 
d'Aremberg  is  feeble  and  tender  in  growth;  shoots  starting  at 
acute  angles  from  the  stem,  growing  upright,  of  a  light  reddish 
tinge,  and  on  the  Quince,  the  growth  is  still  poorer,  and  the  union 
imperfect  and  feeble.  Its  fruit  is  of  pyramidal  shape,  stem  short, 
stout,  fleshy,  a  little  curved,  size  seldom  half  that  of  the  Glout 
Morceau.  Color  quite  yellow,  even  while  hard  and  on  the  tree. 
But  the  Glout  Morceau  is  in  every  particular  dissimilar,  but  in 
no  respect  more  so  than  in  the  growth  and  vigor  of  the  tree,  which 
is  a  very  vigorous  grower,  making  a  handsome  pyramid  j  and  though 
said  to  be  somewhat  subject  to  the  blight,  has  not  proved  so  on  the 
quince  stock.  The  wood  is  of  a  light  brown,  clouded  with  a  gray- 
ish tinge.  It  is  not  very  prolific,  while  young,  but  quite  so,  when 
more  advanced,  the  fruit  being  uniformly  of  good  size.  It  is  pecu- 
liarly adapted  to  the  Quince,  the  growth  being  equal  to  that  on 
the  Pear,  and  the  fruit  much  improved.  The  fruit  is  of  a  deep 
pea-green,  until  it  matures,  when  it  becomes  of  a  greenish  yellow, 
with  patches  of  brown  russet.  The  fruit  has  a  rich,  sugary  per- 
fumed flavor,  is  melting  and  buttery,  and  keeps  late,  flesh  colorless 
and  fine-grained. 

In  the  fall  of  1857,  I  saw  in  the  garden  of  Mr.  VAN  DINE,  at 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  a  tree  of  this  variety,  on  which,  it  was  estimated, 
were  growing  from  eighty  to  one  hundred  dozen  of  fine  pears,  such 
as  Mr.  VAN  DINE  had  for  several  years  sold  in  Boston  for  two  and 
three  dollars  per  dozen.  The  tree  is  very  tardy  in  bearing;  and 
is,  therefore,  one  of  those  varieties  for  which  the  quince-stock  is 
peculiarly  valuable. 


10 


218  FOK  MARKET   CULTIVATION ON    QUINCE. 


LOUISE  BONNE  DE  JERSEY. 

Louise  Bonne  (TAvranches,  Bonne  Louise  d'Avranches. 

William  the  Fourth. 


Fig.  81. 


'• 


VARIETIES.  219 

Some  discrepancy  of  the  authorities  in  regard  to  the  names  of 
this  variety,  have  produced  a  little  embarrassment.  M.  CAPPE 
pronounces  the  Louise  Bonne  d'Avranches  quite  distinct,  in  which 
decision  Mr.  DOWNING,  in  an  account  of  his  visit  to  Paris,  coin- 
cided ;  but  in  his  fruit-book  he  gives  the  names  as  synonyms. 

It  is  a  native  of  the  Isle  of  Jersey,  where  it  is  produced  in  higher 
excellence  than  elsewhere. 

It  has  an  upright  habit  of  growth,  is  easily  distinguished  by  its 
dark  purplish  shoots,  a  little  flecked  with  light  grayish  spots. 
On  the  Quince,  it  is  an  abundant  and  early  bearer,  and  its  flavor 
is  much  improved  on  that  stock.  When,  however,  the  trees  of  this 
variety  on  the  pear-stock  have  attained  considerable  age,  there 
does  not  seem  to  be  much  difference  in  quality  between  the  fruits 
grown  on  both  stocks.  When  it  is  allowed  to  fruit  too  heavily, 
or  when  grown  on  very  young  trees  on  pear-stocks,  there  is  a  ten- 
dency to  astringency,  especially  in  the  skin.  On  the  Quince,  it 
does  not  readily  take  the  pyramid  form,  its  prolific  nature  crowd- 
ing the  wood-buds  into  fruit-buds,  causing  a  deficiency  of  branches. 
To  fill  out  the  cone,  it  must  be  more  .heavily  cut  back  than  other 
kinds,  to  force  the  dormant  buds  to  push,  and  form  radial  branches. 
The  fruit  should  be  very  much  thinned,  as  much  more  will  set 
than  can  be  perfected. 

The  fruit  should  be  picked  as  soon  as  the  stem  will  cleave  with- 
out breaking,  as  its  astringency  is  increased  by  ripening  on  the 
tree.  This  pear  is  the  most  abundant  in  sprightly,  subacid.  cham- 
pagne-flavored juice,  of  all  pears.  Its  thick  skin  materially  serves 
to  retain  this  juice,  retarding  evaporation  :  and  although  considered 
by  some  an  objection,  it  is  essential  in  preserving  the  excellence 
of  the  fruit.  The  fruit  is  often  of  a  beautiful  crimson  color  on  the 
sunny  side. 


220  FOR  MARKET   CULTIVATION ON   QUINCE. 


VlCAR    OF    WlNKFIELD. 

Cure,  Cornice  de  Toulon, 

Monsieur  le  Curfe.  Belle  Adrienne, 

Belle  de  Berri,  Belle  Heloise  Clion. 

DEOEMBBE. 

While  this  fruit  has  few  of  the  high  qualities  that  amateurs 
now  require  from  a  pear,  to  place  it  in  the  first  rank,  it  has  still 
such  valuable  properties  that  it  must  receive  attention.  As  a 
market  fruit,  there  is  none  which,  I  think,  when  all  its  qualifica- 
tions are  taken  into  consideration,  will  have  a  higher  value.  The 
tree  is  very  hardy,  and  probably  the  most  vigorous  grower  of  all 
pears,  making  very  stout,  curving,  and  stocky  shoots.  It  comes 
quite  early  into  bearing,  and  has  the  uncommon  fault  of  maturing 
twice  the  number  of  fruits  which  the  tree  should  bear,  without 
much  lessening  the  quantity  borne  in  succeeding  years,  or  checking 
entirely  its  growth.  When  the  fruit  is  thinned  to  one-fourth,  or 
one-half,  the  pears  reach  a  very  large  size,  and  are  much  improved 
in  flavor;  but  when  small,  the  fruit  is  astringent,  hard,  and  seldom 
ripening  so  as  to  be  eatable.  The  first  requisites  in  the  treatment 
of  this  fruit  are,  thinning  to  the  number  which  will  become  full 
grown,  and  continuing  it  upon  the  tree  as  late  as  safety  from  frosts 
will  allow.  Mr.  SAMUEL  WALKER  and  Col.  WILDER  esteem  this 
fruit  so  highly,  that  they  were  heard  to  say,  many  years  ago,  that 
should  they  be  confined  in  their  choice  to  a  single  variety,  they  would 
strongly  incline  to  select  the  Vicar ;  and  at  the  last  Pomological  Con- 
vention, stated  that  their  more  recent  experience  confirmed  their 
earlier  belief.  Its  hardiness,  great  vigor,  early  prolific,  and  con- 
stant bearing — its  large  size,  fine  shape,  rich  color,  and  late  keeping, 
overcome  the  serious  objections  to  it  which  would  condemn  any 
other  fruit.  It  is  never  melting,  nor  high  flavored,  though  richly 
perfumed,  is  often  astringent  when  not  well  grown,  and  when 
eaten  too  ripe,  is  mealy  and  dry.  But  when  just  ripe,  it  is  crisp 
and  tender,  with  an  over-abundance  of  juice,  of  a  pleasant  acid 
flavor,  which  is  particularly  grateful,  as  being  enjoyed  during  the 
season  when  autumn  fruits  are  long  gone,  and  winter  fruits  not 
yet  ripened.  But  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  following 


221 


222  FOR   MARKET   CULTIVATION — ON   QUINCE. 

conditions  must  be  fulfilled.  Large  size  must  be  obtained  by 
thinning,  to  concentrate  the  saccharine  matter  of  the  tree  into  few 
fruits;  the  pears  should  be  allowed  to  hang  late  on  the  tree; 
should  be  at  once  removed  to  a  cool  room;  should  be  brought  out 
but  few  at  once  to  ripen,  and  should  always  be  eaten  before  becom- 
ing sufficiently  soft  to  be  easily  indented  by  the  thumb  and  finger. 

Mr.  WILLIAM  HOWE,  of  Westchester  County,  has  excelled  most 
ethers  in  the  production  of  this  pear.  I  received  from  him,  in  the 
Fall  of  1856,  Vicars  weighing  seventeen  ounces,  and  of  beautiful 
shape  and  color.  -But  these  were  far  excelled  by  a  specimen 
received  from  Oregon,  which  weighed  twenty-eight  ounces.  A 
tree  of  this  variety,  five  years  planted,  from  the  nursery  row. 
grown  by  Prof.  MAPES,  was  exhibited  at  the  American  Institute 
Fair,  bearing  one  hundred  and  seventy  fair-sized  pears,  far  too 
many  to  arrive  at  the  highest  perfection.  The  fruit  is  large, 
curved  pyriform,  with  neck  much  elongated,  and  continued  up  upon 
the  stem,  which  is  curved,  and  has  flesh  around  its  base. 

When  placed  in  the  sun.  a  day  or  two  before  ripening,  it  acquires 
a  rich  golden  or  lemon-yellow  color.  It  is  greatly  improved  by 
growing  on  the  Quince,  on  which  it  makes  a  strong,  vigorous 
growth,  and  a  firm  union,  and  proving  most  perfectly  adapted  to  it 
in  every  respect.  On  deep  alluvial,  or  rich  and  damp  clay  soils, 
it  is  somewhat  subject  to  blight. 

URBANISTE. 

Beurrfe  Piquery,  Benrre  Drapier, 

Louise  d'Orleans,  Count  Colonna, 

St.  Mark. 

O  OTO  B  BE  — NO  VBM  8KB. 

This  excellent  and  beautiful  pear  is  a  favorite  wherever  it  has 
fruited  :  but  the  tree  is  so  tardy  in  bearing,  that  comparatively  few 
have  proved  its  excellence.  The  natural  beauty  of  the  tree  is 
unequalled,  as  it  takes  a  stout  pyramidal  shape  with  scarcely  any 
pruning,  the  cone  being  rapidly  filled  out  with  numerous  branches 
that  describe  a  graceful  curve.  The  hardiness  and  tardy  bearing 
of  the  tree  give  promise  to  it  of  great  longevity.  The  fruit  is  but 
little  above  the  medium  size :  but  its  great  excellence  and  freedom 


VARIETIES. 


from  disease  or  blemish  entitle  it  to  the  highest  rank.  It  is  so 
tardy  in  bearing  upon  the  pear-stock,  that  it  would  be  a  misfortune 
if  it  had  proved  unfitted  for  the  Quince.  It  makes  a  firm  union 
and  vigorous  growth  upon  that  stock,  and  bears  eight  or  ten  years 
earlier  than  on  pear-roots. 

Fig.  S3. 


Col.  WILDER  says,  that,  he  has  trees  of  this  variety  on  both 
stocks,  twenty  feet  in  height,  planted  twenty  years ;  and  that 
while  those  on  quince-roots  have  borne  twelve  years,  those  on 


224  FOB   MARKET   CULTIVATION ON    QUINCE. 

pear-stock  have  scarcely  produced  a  specimen  fruit.  From  each 
of  those  on  quince,  two  or  three  bushels  of  pears  have  been  gathered 
iii  a  single  season. 

The  fruit  is  delicious  in  flavor,  highly  perfumed,  melting,  and 
without  any  of  those  serious  faults  possessed  by  some  varieties, 
such  as  rotting  at  the  core,  cracking,  or  cankering.  The  pear  is 
very  smooth,  often  glossy,  ripening  to  a  pale,  greenish  yellow, 
with  light  russet  spots;  form  obovate,  with  slightly  hollowing  sides 
near  the  neck.  It  is  very  broad  at  the  calyx  end  in  proportion, 
with  a  wide,  deep  basing,  stem  long,  and  set  in  a  deep  hollow. 
The  wood  is  of  a  peculiar  light  grayish  color,  without  the  shading 
or  tinting  of  other  varieties  on  the  sunny  side. 

WHITE  DOTE\NE. 


fit.  Michael. 
Butter  Pear. 
Bergalo. 
White  Beurre. 
Yellow  Butter. 
Doyenne 
Virgalieu. 

Poire  de  Simon. 
Deans. 
•      Snow  Pear. 
Pine  Pear. 
Poire  Monsieur. 
Valencia. 
Doyenne  Blanc. 

Beurrfe  Blanc. 
Common  Doyenne. 
Kasserbrine. 
Butterbrine. 
White  Autumn  Beurrt. 
Warwick  Bergamot. 
Poire  de  Seigneur. 

It  is  with  some  hesitation  I  admit  this  in  the  list ;  but  its  great 
excellence,  abundant  crops,  and  the  hardiness  of  the  tree,  compel 
me  to  allow  it  a  place,  but  with  the  sad  qualification  that  it  can- 
not be  fruited  in  perfection,  with  any  tolerable  certainty,  any 
where  on  the  Atlantic  Coast.  It  was  Mr.  DOVTNING'S  opinion, 
that  its  failure  was  the  result  of  the  exhaustion  of  the  alkaline 
salts  of  the  soil.  But  this  does  not  prove  to  be  true,  for  the  soil 
best  supplied  with  these  elements  will  no  more  produce  perfect 
Vergalieus  than  the  poorest  soil.  The  tree  grows  vigorously, 
often  loaded  with  fruit,  which  soon  cankers,  covered  with  a  crust 
like  burnt  leather,  cracking  into  irregular  fissures,  becoming 
totally  unfit  to  eat. 

On  the  Quince,  however,  it  is  often  obtained  of  great  excellence. 
But  it  has  not  been  sufficiently  tested  to  pronounce  with  certainty 
on  its  uniform  success ;  and  the  tide  of  opinion  latterly  seems 
entirely  opposed  to  it. 

The  disease  manifests  itself  principally  in  the  region  of  large 
of  water — the  ocean  and  great  lakes. 


VARIETIES. 

WHITE  DOYENNE. 
Fig.  84. 


225 


This  fruit  scarcely  needs  a  description — it  is  of  medium  size 
oblong  obovate,  becoming  golden  yellow  in  ripening,  with  a  ricn 
blush  on  one  cheek.  It  is  the  very  type  by  which  all  other  Pears 
are  compared  in  its  melting,  buttery  texture,  and  abundant  spiced 
and  high-flavored  juice. 

The  tree  is  vigorous,  of  rather  upright  growth :  the  yearling 
shoots  of  a  yellowish  cast,  with  a  pale  blush  on  sunny  side  j 
the  older  wood,  of  a  slight  reddish  glow. 

There  are  many  seedlings  of  this  variety  that  approach  it  in 
excellence. 

10* 


226  VARIETIES. 


ADDITIONAL    LIST. 

THIS  second  selection  of  pears  is  intended  to  include  those  hav- 
ing most  of  the  properties  requisite  for  the  first  list,  but  which  are 
deficient  in  some  important  particular.  Some  are  too  new  to  be 
pronounced  upon  ]  some  are  equal  to  those  of  the  first  list  in  certain 
localities,  but  not  in  all ;  and  generally,  they  possess  too  great 
excellence  of  flavor,  size,  and  beauty,  to  be  passed  over. 

They  are  all  necessary  to  a  complete  amateur  collection,  and 
the  market-fruit  raiser  should  have  at  least  specimens  of  every 
kind,  to  test  their  fitness  for  his  locality.  Any  of  these  varieties 
may  be  pronounced  best,  when  the  cultivator  has  the  soil  and 
climate  which  bring  them  to  their  highest  perfection,  and  they 
suffer  no  disparagement  by  being  placed  in  this  list  •  for  they  may, 
in  localities  adapted  to  them,  prove  superior  to  any  in  the  first  list. 
It  must  be  remembered  that  this  selection  is  made  more  according 
to  a  marketmaivs  calculations  of  profit  and  loss,  than  an  amateur's 
enthusiastic  admiration. 

Varieties  proved  to  be  adapted  to  the  Quince,  will  be  noted  in 
the  descriptions.  Where  nothing  is  stated  in  regard  to  the  stock, 
it  may  be  understood  that  the  pear-stock  is  best  for  that  variety, 
or  that  it  is  not  sufficiently  tested  on  the  Quince. 


ANDREWS. 


An  excellent  variety,  as  far  as  I  have  seen,  proving  a  most 
hardy  tree,  a  regular  and  early  bearer.  The  fruit  is  said  to  rot 
occasionally  at  the  core ;  I  have  never  found  it  to  do  so.  According 
to  Mr.  DOWNING,  it  never  suffers  from  blight,  and  I  believe  does 
not  on  most  soils.  A  large  number  received  by  me  from  a  nursery 
located  on  a  low,  alluvial  soil — in  fact,  a  drained  mill-pond  bed — 
blighted  badly.  Some  of  my  friends  who  have  planted  it,  are 
Usappointed  in  its  flavor  and  general  character.  The  fruit  is  long 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


227 


pyriform,  shaped  somewhat  like  the  Bartlett,  but  smaller ;  with  a 
yellowish  green  and  reddish  tinge  on  the  cheek.  Very  juicy,  melt- 
ing, with  a  delicious  sparkling  flavor. 


ANA^7AS  D'ETE. 

SEPTEMBER     AND     OCTOBKB, 


Fruit  excellent,  fine 
grained,  buttery,  mel- 
ting, from  medium 
size  to  large;  abun- 
dant sugary  juice, 
of  rich  flavor,  and 
perfumed  when  per- 
fect. Skin  rough, 
coarse,  —  yellowish 
green,  with  large  rus- 
set roughness  flecked 
over  it.  Shape  py- 
riform, tapering  quite 
regularly  to  the  stem, 
which  is  set  without 
depression,  is  straight, 
and  is  of  medium 
length.  The  fruit 
is  very  variable,  and 
sometimes  quite  poor. 
Ripens  in  September 
and  October,  though 
termed  by  the  French 
Summer  Pineapple. 


Fig.  85. 


228 


VARIETIES, 


BEURRE  GRIS  D'HIVER  NOUVEAU. 


Beurrfc  gris  de  Lucon. 
•*      d'Hiver, 


Beurre  gris  Superienr, 
Beurre  de  Fontenay. 


DECEMBER     TO     FEBBTTABY. 

This  pear  will  be  highly  appreciated  when  better  known,  being 
one  of  the  most  su- 
gary, juicy,  melt- 
ing, and  buttery  of 
winter  pears ;  — 
much  resembles  the 
Winter  Nelis  in  tex- 
ture and  flavor,  but 
is  more  sparkling 
and  juicy.  Fruit 
from  medium  size 
to  large,  obovate. 
slightly  depressed 
on  one  side,  anl 
hollow  on  the  other. 
Stem  stout  and 
thick,  skin,  rough 
golden  russet,  often 
with  a  handsome 
blush,  dotted  with 
russet  spots.  This 
pear  is  the  largest 
and  handsomest  of 

the  russets.  Tree  moderately  vigorous,  very  productive,  with  dark 
brown,  almost  reddish  wood ;  promises  well  on  the  Quince.  Its 
late  keeping  —  December  to  February — its  ripening  without  the 
constant  variability  of  the  Easter  Beurre,  and  other  winter  varie- 
ties, will  give  it  a  high  reputation. 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


229 


BEURRE  ST.  NICHOLAS. 
Duchesse  d'Orleans.  |  St.  Nicholas. 

DECEMBER     TO     JANTTABY. 

Is  placed  in  the  highest  rank  by  all  who 
have  fruited  it.  Very  juicy,  melting,  with 
a  highland  rather  aromatic  flavor.   Obo- 
vate  pyriform,  swollen    at  the  centre, 
medium  size  to  large,   light  yellowish 
green,  and  occasionally  a  blush  dotted 
with  brown.    Stem  long,  stoutish.  curved, 
with    fleshy  insertion. 
It  has  grown  well  with 
me  on  the  Quince,  and 
makes  a  handsome  py- 
ramid.   Ripens  in  Sep- 
tember and  early  No- 
vember. 


Fig. 


230 


VARIETIES. 


BEURRE  D'AREMBERG. 


Due  d'Aremberg. 

L'Orpbeline. 

Descnamps. 


Orpheline  d'Engheen. 
Beurre  d'Orphelines. 
Colmar  Deschamps. 


PBBEUAET. 


I  intended  to  place  the  Beurre  d'Aremberg  upon  tne  list  of 
rejected  varieties,  but  in  deference  to  the  American  Pomological 
Society.  I  give  it  here  a  description.  This  name  has  been  often 
erroneously  applied  to  the  Glout  Morceau.  The  high  claims  made 
by  the  friends  of  this  variety  have  not  proved  well  founded :  it 

Fig.  88. 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


231 


being  short-lived,  cankerous,  and  unwholesome  on  tho  Quince,  very 
difficult  to  ripen,  often  woody  and  astringent ;  fruits  early,  of  fair 
size  and  color,  keeps  like  a  black  walnut,  and  tastes  like  one  eaten 
— husk  and  all.  Stem  thick,  irregular,  fleshy,  declined.  Fruit 
obovate,  short  pyriformj  said  by  some  to  be  "good,"  even  "best." 
But  it  cannot  be  recomended  for  general  culture. 


BEURRE  D'AMALIS. 


OCTOBER. 


Large,  productive,  fine  flavored,  often  as  good  as  the  Bartlett. 


Tree  a  prodigious 
rampant  grower, 
difficult  of  re- 
straint. The  fruit 
has  the  defect  of 
never  attaining 
more  than  a  dun, 
dusky  yellowish 
green,  sometimes 
with  a  faint  blush, 
and  is  far  from 
attractive  in  ap- 
pearance. Flesh 
yellowish,  often 
somewhat  coarse, 
must  be  eaten  im- 
mediately on  rip- 
ening, soon  beco- 
ming mealy  and 
insipid.  Shape, 
short  obovate,  in- 
clined to  irregular 
turbinate.  Stem 
long,  oblique,  ca- 
lyx open,  basin 
shallow 


Fig.  89. 


VARIETIES. 


Fig.  90. 


BEURRE  Bosc. 
Bosc's     Haschenbirne. 

NOTEMBEE. 

A   most   beautiful,  tapering 
pyriform  fruit,  with  a  thin,  long 
neck,  and  long  curved  stem.    It 
is  of  the  highest  excellence,  the 
best  of  the  Van  Mons  Seedlings ; 
but  it  is  feeble  in  growth  and 
constitution,    especially    when 
young.    Shoots  dark  brown,  thin 
and  long.     The  fruit  is  borne 
somewhat  thinly  over  the  tree, 
never  in  clusters,  is  a  rich  russet 
brown,  but- 
tery,   melt- 
ing, of  most 
delicious  fla- 
vor,    white 
flesh,   pecu- 
liar   shape, 
which  once 
seen,  cannot 
be  mistaken, 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


233 


BEURRE  LANGELIER. 
PBOEMBER   AND    J  A  >' U  A  K  Y , 

Fig.  91. 


Anew  variety,  which  I  have  not  thoroughly  tested;  but  so 
esteemed  by  the  older  pomologists,  that  it  must  receive  a  place  in 
this  list.  Fruit  medium  size,  somewhat  irregular  obovate  pyri- 
form,  tending  to  turbinate,  contracting  near  the  neck  like  Nouveau 


234:  VARIETIES. 

Poiteau.  Stem  stout,  rather  long,  set  without  depression  on  the 
obtuse  end  of  the  pear.  Basin  often  furrowed  j  calyx  set  deep  in 
it.  Color  lively  green,  changing  to  pale  yellow  in  ripening,  with 
reddish  blush,  and  russet  dots.  Flesh  yellowish  white,  and  when 
well  ripened,  melting  with  abundant,  rich,  sprightly,  subacid  juice. 
Good  on  Pear,  somewhat  better  on  Quince.  Tree  vigorous  and 
productive.  Season  during  December  and  January. 

BEURRE  CAPIAUMONT. 

Captanmont.  |  Aurora  Beurrfe. 

This  pear  deserves  a  place  in  this  list,  not  so  much  from  the 
quality  of  its  fruit  as  from  the  great  hardiness,  productiveness, 
and  beauty  of  the  tree.  It  is  a  vigorous  grower.  Fruit  medium 
size,  very  regular,  long  turbinate,  tapering  insensibly  into  the 
stem,  which  is  long,  thin,  and  curved.  Quite  sweet,  melting, 
buttery,  fine-grained  and  high  flavored,  but  often  astringent,  its 
quality  being  quite  variable.  Skin  smooth,  clear  yellow,  with 
russet  red  cheek.  

BEURRE  CLAIRGEAU. 

NOVEMBEB     TO      JANUARY. 

This  most  noble  and  beautiful  pear  disappointed  the  too  sanguine 
expectations  that  attended  its  first  introduction ;  but  the  reaction 
will  turn  in  its  favor,  and  it  will  be  fairly  appreciated.  The  fruit 
is  rather  coarse  in  texture,  and  not  always  of  high  flavor ;  flesh 
yellowish,  and,  when  quite  in  perfection,  buttery,  juicy,  with  a 
pleasant,  perfumed  flavor,  and  rather  granular  texture.  It  is 
large,  pyriform,  obtuse,  one-sided,  keeps  well;  is  good  on  Quince, 
and  will  certainly  prove  a  valuable  market  fruit.  Tree  bears  as 
early  as  the  Bartlett ;  wood  much  resembling  it. 

It  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  gorgeous  of  fruits,  coloring  with 
a  peculiar  gold  bronze  tint,  shading  into  a  brilliant  red  blush,  and 
when  borne,  as  often  occurs,  upon  trees  only  two  or  three  years 
from  the  bud,  and  acquiring  a  size  even  larger  than  in  the  cut, 
presents  a  strikingly  beautiful  appearance.  The  Clairgeau  ripens 


JiKl.:UKE  CLAIEGEAU. 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


235 


with  a  peculiarity  which  is  worthy  of  notice.  While  most  fine 
pears  lose  greatly  in  quality  by  over-ripening,  becoming  rotten  at 
the  core,  insipid,  or  mealy,  the  flavor  of  this  pear  is  much  improved 
when  apparently  verging  on  decay.  Indeed,  when  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  exterior  has  decayed,  the  interior  will  be  sound,  and 
retain  its  flavor,  a  quality  that  will  not  be  despised  by  those  who 
have  ripened  the  core-rotting  pears. 


BEURRE  GIFFARD. 


MIDDLE     OF     ATTGTTST. 


In  quality  and  size, 
this  beautiful  pear 
ranks  highest  among 
the  August  varieties. 
It  approaches  nearest 
the  standard  of  buttery, 
melting,  juicy,  and  high 
flavored  pears.  But  on 
the  other  hand,  the  tree 
is  of  feeble  and  strag- 
gling growth ;  growing 
not  more  than  half  as 
rapidly  as  most  others. 
It  is  of  a  peculiar  red- 
dish tinge,  branching 
at  obtuse  angles.  Fruit 
a  little  larger  than  me- 
dium, pyriform  or  long 
turbinate ;  stem  and 
fruit  merging  insensi- 
bly. Skin  yellow, when 
ripe,  with  a  red  flush, 
often  appearing  mot- 
tled. 


Fig.  92. 


236 


VARIETIES. 


CHURCH. 

SEPTEMBER 

Fig.  93. 


The  original  tree  still  stands  in  New  Rochelle,  Westchcstcr 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  is  traced  by  Mr.  BERKMANS  to  the  Huguenot 
settlers.  It  is  remarkable,  lhat  wherever  the  Huguenots  settled, 
the  Pear  abounds,  and  native  varieties  of  great  excellence  are 
common.  Around  New  llochelle  also  originated  the  Parsonage, 
the  Huntington,  and  others  of  less  note. 

The  Church  Pear  is  irregular  angular,  oblate  turbinate ;  stem, 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


237 


long,  stout ;  skin,  yeliow  when  ripe  ;  flesh,  very  buttery,  melting 
and  juicy,  with  perfumed  rix;h  flavor  when  in  perfection.  Tt  has 
been  claimed  as  the  Platt,  which  it  much  resembles,  but  the  iden- 
tity has  not  yet  been  established. 

Tree  vigorous,  healthy,  a  great  bearer. 


DEARBORN'S  SEEDLING. 

AUGUST. 

A  very  nice,  juicy  little  Pear,  grown  for  more  than  forty  years 
around  Boston,  where  it  originated. 

Tree,  a  most  pro-  Fig.  94. 

lific  bearer  particu- 
larly repugnant  to 
the  Quince. 

Fruit,  when  per- 
fect, very  juicy,  al- 
most melting,  and 
of  a  refreshing, 
sprightly  flavor,but 
it  is  quite  often  in- 
sipid and  flavor- 
less, and  always 
so  small  as  to  be 
unfit  for  market 
cultivation.  Skin 
very  smooth  and 
clear,  slightly  dot- 
ted ;  ripening  with 
a  uniform  light 
yellowish  glow. 
Shapenearly  round, 
stem  long.  Ripens 
in  middle  August, 
but  is  not  in  eating 
condition  quite  as 
soon  as  the  Bloodgood. 


238  VARIETIES. 


Gray  Benrr6, 
Golden  Beurre, 
Beurre  tlu  Koi, 
Isambert, 


BEURRE  BROWN. 

Brown  Butter, 
Beurre  d'Amboise, 
Beurre"  d'or, 
Eed  Beurre, 


SEPTEMBER. 


Beurrt?  Rou^e, 
Beurre  Doree, 
B.  de  Treveureu, 
Beurre  Butter. 


These  are  but  few  of  the  synonyms  of  this  once  popular  Pear, 
When  in  perfection  it  takes  the  first  rank  for  melting,  buttery 
texture,  abundance  of  juice  and  delicious  sub-acid  flavor,  but  it  is 
the  very  chameleon  of  Pears,  and  is  so  uncertain  that  but  few  can 
reasonably  hope  to  ever  bring  it  to  its  highest  excellence. 

Fruit,  rather  large,  oblong  obovate,  stem  and  flesh  meeting 
without  shoulder  or  basin ;  skin,  a  little  rough  and  rusty,  and 
color  "  such  as  the  gods  please."  Unfit  for  general  cultivation. 


DELICES  D'    HARDENPONT,  OF  BELGIUM. 

NOVEMBER   AND   DECEMBER. 

The  Tree  is  described  by  BERKMANS  as  feeble  and  unhealthy  in 
Belgium ;  but  growing  much  better  in  this  country,  where  it  is 
still  not  very  vigorous.  Shoots  long  and  upright. 

Fruit  regularly  pyramidal,  tending  to  turbinate,  sometimes 
angular;  stem  short,  thick;  skin  rather  rough ;  yellowish  green 
when  ripe.  Flesh  buttery,  melting,  very  juicy,  sweet  and  highly 
perfumed. 

BEURRE  HARDY. 
Beurrfe  Sterkman. 

SEPTEMBER     AND     OCTOBER. 

Fruit  large,  obovate  pyriform,  one-sided  like  the  Beurre  d'Anjou, 
light  reddish  green,  with  brownish  spots  :  stem  stoutish,  of  medium 
length,  inclined,  set  in  a  moderate  cavity  with  a  high  shoulder  on  the 
larger  side  ;  calyx  much  spread  :  basin  broad  and  shallow ;  buttery, 
melting  with  great  quantity  of  rich,  sparkling,  vinous,  perfumed 
juice.  The  tree  grows  vigorously  on  both  pear  and  quince. 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


DlX. 

TO       DECEMBEB 

The  Dix  is  a  native  of  Boston. 
It  has  tasked  to  the  utmost  the  pa- 
tience of  cultivators  by  its  tardiness 
in  bearing.  Col.  WILDER  and  Mr. 
B.  B.  FRENCH  have  grown  the  jtrees 
nineteen  years  without  obtaining 
the  first  peck  of  fruit. 

Fruit  very  large,  long  pyriform, 
rich  deep   yellow  when 
ripe  strongly  marked  with 
irregular     russet     spots. 
Stem  stout,  not  quite  short, 
set    with    a    lip   turned 
against    its    base,    in    a 
slight  depression.     Flesh 
melting,  suga- 
ry   and     very 
juicy,  and   al- 
though not  en- 
tirely free  from 
a  little  coarse- 
ness,   is    most 
rich  and  delici- 
ous.    Does  not; 
succeed  on  the 
Quince. 


240 


VARIETIES. 


DOYENNE  SIEULLE. 
Sieulle,        I.  Beurrd  Sieulle,  |         Bergamotte  Sieulla. 

Fig.  96. 


This  is  a  most  excellent  fruit,  rather  large,  very  juicy  and  but. 
tery,  somewhat  coarse-grained,  about  half  melting.  Shape  pecu- 
liar roundish  obovate,  and  rather  angular.  Skin,  bright,  dark  green, 
changing  to  a  greenish  yellow,  much  dotted  with  green  spots. 

The  hardiness  and  vigor  of  the  tree  and  remarkable  produc- 
tiveness entitle  it  to  high  estimation  as  a  market  pear,  although 
the  fruit  is  hardly  high-colored  enough  for  the  whimsical  taste  of 
a  capricious  public. 

Its  growth  indicates  fitness  for  the  Quince.  Sea-son.  October 
and  November. 


ADDITIONAL    LIST.  24:1 


DOVENNE  D'ALENOON. 

Doyeimfe  Gris  d'Hiver  Nouveau,         I         St.  Michael  .nilver. 
Doyenne  Gris  d'Hiver  d'Alencon,       |         New  Gray  Winter  Vergaliea. 

DBOEMBKE      TO      APRIL. 
Fiff.    97. 


Although  not  yet  sufficiently  tested,  this  pear  has  received  the 
highest  praise,  wherever  well  cultivated.  I  have  proved  speci- 
mens from  several  localities,  and  all  were  excellent.  The  tree  is 
vigorous,  of  handsome  shape,  easily  trained  to  a  pyramid,  does 
exceedingly  well,  and  is  best  on  the  Quince.  Fruit,  obovate.  obtuse 
pyriform,  with  rough,  thick,  astringent  skin  of  russet  green,  with 
coarse  russet  spots.  Flesh,  rather  coarse-grained,  yet  melting 
juicy,  and  almost  buttery,  with  a  sprightly  vinous  and  rich  flavor. 

With  proper  treatment  it  keeps  till  April,  which  makes  it  valu- 
able for  a  market  Pear.  If  kept  warm  it  ripens  in  December. 

11 


242 


VARIETIES. 


FREDERIC  OF  WIRTEMBERG. 

Eol  de  "Wirtemberg.  |  King  of  Wirtemberp 

Vemuleu  d'Ete. 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


248 


I  cannot  bring  myself  to  slight  this  gorgeous  fruit,  or  rate  it 
as  low  as  some  pomologists.  It  is  certainly  the  most  beautiiul 
object  that  has  been  colored  by  the  pencil  of  nature.  It  hangs* 
upon  the  tree  like  a  drop  of  gold  and  crimson,  its  tints  deepening 
day  after  day.  The  flesh  is  white,  melting,  and  delicious ;  and 
when  in  perfection,  sweet  and  buttery — leaving  little  to  be  desired 
by  the  taste  of  the  eater.  Its  growth  is  singular;  the  leading  shoot 
is  tall,  stout,  stocky,  with  few  or  no  radial  branches.  Does  not 
easily  take  the  pyramidal  form. 


FULTON  . 
OCTOBER    AND    NOVEMBER. 


The  Fulton  is  a  beauti- 
ful Bergamot-shaped  Pear, 
of  a  dark,  russet  brown; 
—  rich,  sprightly  flavor, 
often ;  and  although  not 
juicy,  is  not  by  any  means 
dry. 


Fig.  99. 


The  tree  is  said  to  be 
hardy,  but  a  poor  grower. 
It  has  admirers  who  claim 
for  it  the  best  qualities; 
but  in  my  experience  it  is 
too  small  for  a  market 
Pear. 


244 


VARIETIES. 


GOLDEN  BEURRE  OF  BILDOA 


SEPTEMBER. 


One  of  the  most 
clear,  golden-skin- 
ned, and  beautiful 
of  fruits.  It  is  usu- 
ally capped  with  a 
rich  russet  around 
the  stem,  which  is 
quite  long  and 
slender,  set  in  a 
very  slight  basin. 
It  is  quite  small, 
and  not  unfre- 
quently  much  re- 
sembles the  DEAR- 
BORN'S Seedling.  It 
is  often  far  from 
buttery,  occasion- 
ally a  little  acid, 
with  an  abundance 
of  sprightly  juice. 
When  perfect,  it  is 
buttery,  melting, 
of  a  rich,  pleasant 
sub-acid  flavor. 

Good  on  Pear  01 
Quince. 


Fig.  100. 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


245 


Doyenne  Grfc, 

14         Roux, 
"         Galouge, 


GRAY  DOYENNE. 

Gray  Doyenne, 
Ked  « 

Gay 


Gray  St.  Michael, 
Doyenne  rTAutonme, 
St.  "Michael  Dore. 


OCTOBEB       TO      D B C E M B B K . 

Fig.  101. 


When  in  perfection,  this  fruit  cannot  be  too  highly  praised,  but 
unfortunately,  like  the  White  Doyenne,  i;-  subject  to  cracking  and 
spotting,  until  it  loses  the  very  semblance  of  a  Pear.  It  much  re- 
sembles the  White  Doyenne.  It  is  a  little  rounder  than  the  Verga- 
lieu,  with  flesh  of  the  same  delicious,  melting,  buttery,  fine-grained 
texture,  and  like  the  latter,  is  in  every  respect  the  very  type  of 
excellence. 

It  will  not  come  to  perfection  on  the  Atlantic  Coast. 


246 


VARIETIES. 


I  know  of  no  reason  why  this  should  not  be  ranked  first-rate, 
except  that  it  lias  not  been  extensively  proved.  It  was  raised  from 
the  seed  by  a  gentleman  in  New  Haven,  whose  name  it  bears.  It 
is  classed  by  the  American  Pomological  Society  for  general  cul- 
tivation. 


ADDITIOXAL   LIST. 


247 


The  fruit  is  large,  obtuse  pyriform.  obovate ;  stem  rather  more 
than  an  inch  long,  curved,  and  set  within  a  cavity :  skin  a  clear, 
rather  pale  yellow  when  ripe,  with  small  russet  dots,  and  occasion- 
ally a  faint  blush.  Flesh  very  melting,  with  a  rich,  sparkling, 
slightly  acid  juice,  faintly  perfumed.  The  tree  is  vigorous,  but 
not  very  productive  when  young,  has  not  been  much  proved  on 
the  Quince. 


Citron  des  Cannes, 


MADELEINE. 
I 


Magdalen. 


A  favorite  from  its  early  ripening. 
in  perfection,  melting  and 
juicy,  of  small  size,  some- 
what obovate,  tending  to  py- 
riform ;  stem  long  and  curved, 
skin  smooth,  light,  yellow 
green. 

The  fruit  is  very  often  far 
from  first-rate:  the  tree  is 
very  liable  to  blight. 

It  is  surprisingly  vigorous 
in  its  growth,  in  favorable 
locations,  and  is  so  regular  in 
the  formation  of  its  branches 
as  to  readily  form  a  hand- 
some pyramid. 

We  shall  look  in  vain, 
however,  for  high  flavor,  or 
great  excellence,  in  pears 
ripening  so  early,  but  as  the 
taste  has  not  become  criti- 
cal by  comparison  with  au- 
tumn pears,  we  are  more 
easily  satisfied. 


It  is  very  delicious  when 
Fig.  103. 


248 


VARIETIES. 


MARIE  LOUISE. 

Farim  Maria  Louise.  }  Marie  chrea.na* 

Fig.  104. 


This  is  a  most  excellent  and  beautiful  pear,  but  the  tree  is  a 
feeble  straggling  grower,  forming  numerous  shoots:  easily  shaped 


ADDITIONAL    LIST.  249 

to  a  pyramid,  but  continually  escaping  from  it  with  its  sweeping, 
curling  growth.  Fruit  large  and  beautiful,  oblong,  curved  pyri- 
form ;  stem  long,  curving  to  the  smaller  side,  set  in  a  slight  de- 
pression with  a  shoulder  on  the  larger  side  •  a  rich,  clear  yellow 
when  ripe;  cheek  marked  with  russet  spots;  flesh  a  little  irregular 
in  quality,  but  usually  buttery,  melting  to  a  remarkable  degree 
with  a  delicious  sugary,  sparkling  flavor.  Does  not  succeed  on 
Quince.  Season,  first  to  middle  of  October. 


NAPOLEON. 

Medaille,  I  Eoi  de  Eome, 

Sucree  Douce,  Poire  Liard. 

8EPTEMBEB     AND     OCTOBER. 

This  beautiful  and  delicious  pear  has  only  in  few  instances 
sustained  its  European  reputation  in  this  country.  It  has  not 
generally  succeeeded  on  the  Quince  :  on  the  Pear  it  is  a  beautiful 
and  vigorous  grower.  From  observation,  I  conclude  that  strong, 
rich  clay  soils  are  best  suited  to  it,  and  that  it  does  only  moderately 
well  on  light  or  porous  ones.  Its  foliage  is  peculiarly  beautiful, 
having  large  glossy  leaves  like  the  lemon  tree. 

Fruit,  medium  to  large  size,  with  very  smooth,  clear,  green  skin, 
ripening  to  a  pale  clouded  yellow.  Stem,  stoutish  and  rather 
short,  set  in  a  slight  depression ;  calyx  in  a  broad  shallow  basin. 
Flesh  white,  melting,  being  but  little  more  than  so  much  sprightly 
vinous  juice  when  perfect.  Many  cultivators  are  confident  that 
the  older  trees  will  quite  uniformly  bring  the  fruit  to  perfection, 
with  proper  care  in  ripening. 

It  is  certainly,  when  in  perfection,  one  of  the  highest  flavored 
pears,  containing,  as  has  been  said,  so  great  an  abundance  of  de- 
licious juice.  Its  most  serious  defects  are,  the  small  size  it  attains 
in  unfavorable  soils,  and  the  occasional  spotting  and  cankering 
characteristic  of  the  White  Doyenne. 

It  has  the  same  thin  smooth  skin,  as  the  latter  pear — a  peculiar- 
ity of  those  pears  which  canker. 


11* 


250 


VARIETIES. 


NOUVEAU    POITF.AU, 
K  O  V  EM  B  E  B. 

Fig.  105. 


A  vigorous,  handsome  tree,  the  fruit  of  which.  Colonel  WILDER'* 
description,  in  1850,  has  not  too  highly  colored.  In  size,  the  fruit 
often  nearly  equals  the  Bartlett:  obtuse  pyriform.  somewhat 
sunken  near  the  neck;  stem  short,  stoutish,  set  without  any 
depression;  calyx  very  open,  with  the  parts  turned  back.  The 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


251 


fruit  is  not  attractive,  being  of  an  opaque  green,  with  an  occa- 
sional blush  on  the  cheek;  but  its  melting,  juicy  character,  and 
rich,  sugary  flavor,  delights  every  palate.  To  insure  perfection,  it 
should  be  grown  on  the  Quince. 


ONONDAGA. 
Swan's  Orange.  |  Orange. 

SEPTEMBER      TO      NOVEMBER. 

Fig.  106. 


252 


VARIETIES. 


In  a  rich,  strong,  clay  soil,  this  is  a  noble,  beautiful,  and  deli» 
cious  fruit,  but  it  is  liable  to  great  variation.  The  tree  is  quite 
distinguishable  by  its  vigorous  and  naturally  pyramidal  form  of 
light  grayish  shoots.  It  is  very  productive,  and  grows  equally 
well  on  Pear  or  Quince.  The  fruit,  when  perfect,  is  melting,  but- 
tery, and  juicy,  but  always  a  little  granular,  and  sometimes  acid. 
It  is  of  a  rich,  deep  yellow,  relieved  by  russet  dots ;  and  from  its 
color  and  obovate  shape,  was  named  Orange.  It  is  more  often  an 
obtuse  pyriform,  thickest  in  the  centre,  divided  into  five  lobes, 
between  the  centre  and  calyx.  It  is  a  splendid  market  fruit,  not 
always  first-rate,  and  only  adapted  to  certain  localities.  Its 
average  is  equal  to  that  of  the  Duchesse ;  but  the  largest  never 
equals  in  size  the  best  specimens  of  the  Duchesse. 

OSWEGO  BEURRE. 

OCTOBER      TO      DEOZMBEB. 
Fig.   107. 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


253 


Originated  in  Oswego,  New  York,  by  Mr.  W.  READ.  Its  great 
hardiness,  long-keeping,  and  excellence,  make  it  worthy  of  general 
cultivation.  It  is  vigorous  and  productive.  Fruit  medium  size, 
oblate  roundish,  a  beautiful  cinnamon  russet,  becoming  yellowish 
when  ripe.  Stem  short,  set  deep  in  a  very  regularly  rounded 
basin.  Flesh  buttery,  melting,  juicy,  high-flavored,  and  aromatic. 

PARSONAGE. 

SEPTEMBER. 

Fig.  108. 


254:  VARIETIES. 

01  the  same  origin  as  the  Church,  and  nearly  equal  excellence. 
Fruit  from  the  medium  size  to  large,  obtuse  pyriform.  and  obovate; 
skin  nearly  orange  yellow,  with  a  dull  red  blush,  and  somewhat 
russety ;  stem  short,  thick,  fleshy  at  its  insertion ;  flesh  melting, 
sugary,  with  rich  sparkling  juice :  high  flavored,  but  a  little  coarse 
and  granular. 

PARADISE  D'AUTOMNE. 

Calebasse  Bosc.  j  Princesse  Marianne. 

Maria  Nouvelle. 

Generally  mistaken  at  first  sight,  for  the  Beurre  Bosc,  which  it 
closely  resembles.  But  the  tree  of  the  Bosc  is  comparatively 
feeble,  while  that  of  the  Paradise  is  strong  and  vigorous.  Fruit 
large,  pyriform,  tapering  up  upon  the  stem,  which  is  often  nearly 
two  inches  long  and  curved ;  skin,  a  rich,  yellowish  brown  russet. 
Flesh  white,  buttery,  of  very  rich  delicious  flavor. 


Colmar  Gris. 

Passe  Colmar  Epinceaux. 
Colmar  Souveraine. 
Colmar  Proule. 


PASSE  COLMAR. 

Ananas  d'lliver. 
Colmar  Hardenpont. 
Souveraine  d'l liver. 
Fondante  de  Mons. 


Passe  Colmar  Gris. 

"      Nouveatu 
Co!  mar  Doree. 
Fondante  de  PaniseL 


NOVEMBER     TO      JAKTTAEY. 

There  are  many  other  besides  these  more  common  synonyms. 
It  is  such  an  abundant  bearer,  that  the  fruit,  especially  on  young 
trees,  must  be  thinned  to  one-third  or  one-half,  to  come  to  perfec- 
tion. The  growth  is  often  so  luxuriant  as  to  absorb  too  much  the 
energies  of  the  tree  in  one  direction,  unless  pinched  back. 

This  variety  affords  a  fine  comparison  with  the  Duchesse,  show- 
ing the  cause  of  more  or  less  abundant  fruiting  after  abundant 
blossoming.  In  the  Passe  Colmar  the  pistils  and  stamens  of  every 
flower  are  strongly  and  perfectly  developed.  While  in  the  Duch- 
esse  many  are  imperfect,  and  but  a  comparatively  small  number 
of  pears  are  produced. 

The  fruit  grows  in  clusters,  fair  size,  and  first-rate  quality  when 
thinned;  flesh  yellowish  white,  buttery,  melting,  juicy:  rich  aro- 
matic flavor.  It  needs  care  and  shelter  in  ripening.  It  is  obtuse 
pyriform ;  sides  suddenly  depressed  above  the  centre,  giving  the 


ADDITIONAL    LIST. 


255 


appearance  of  a  lorg  pyriform  whose  base  had  been  pressed  up  and 
swollen  at  the  centre.  Skin  becomes  whitish-yellow  long  before 
maturity,  ripening  to  a  bright  yellow,  with  russet  brown  spots. 
Stem  long,  inserted  without  depression ;  calyx  open ;  basin  shallow 


ROSTIEZER. 


A  fine  little  summer  pear,  from  Germany,  and  though  not  long 
in  this  country,  has  gained 


hosts  of  friends.  And  al- 
though we  must  not  expect 
large  size  and  high  flavor 
in  summer  pears,  this  vari- 
ety usually  approaches  near- 
est to  the  fine  rich  flavor  of 
our  best  autumn  pears.  It 
is  very  juicy  and  sweet,  with 
a  pleasant  aromatic  taste. 
Pyriform,  with  a  long  slen- 
der, curved  stem.  Skin  a 
yellowish-green,  often  with 
a  sunny-brown  cheek.  Tree 
vigorous,  growing  well  on 
the  Quince.  . 

It  is  like  all  the  summer 
pears,  very  greatly  improved 
by  gathering  before  becom- 
ing quite  ripe :  and  the 
terms  of  quality  bestowed 
upon  them  will  never  be 
found  appropriate  or  truth- 
ful, except  under  this  con- 
dition. 


Fig.  10». 


256 


VARIETIES. 


Native.  Fruit,  medium  to  large  size;  beautiful  yellowish 
brown  ;  the  cheek  a  rich,  deep,  reddish  brown;  remarkably  smooth 
skin  ;  almost  bergamot-shaped,  remarkably  regular ;  stem  inserted 
•without  depression ;  rich,  juicy,  melting,  high-flavored,  when  first- 
rate  ;  quite  often  insipid,  tending  to  mealiness  and  rot  at  the  core, 
when  over-ripe.  Tree  handsome,  vigorous,  productive,  not  suffi- 
ciently  proved  on  the  Quince.  During  October. 


ADDITIONAL  LIST. 

SOLDAT  LABOUREUR. 

OCTOBKB   AND    NOVEMBER. 

.  Fig.  111. 


257 


It  is  quite  surprising  that  this  pear  has  not  made  more  progress  in 
public  esteem.  Tree  remarkably  vigorous,  rampant  grower,  diffi- 
cult to  restrain,  but,  with  care,  forming  good  pyramids.  The  fruit 
I  consider  of  the  nighest  excellence.  It  is  medium  to  large  size, 
nearly  obtuse  pyriforrn,  with  quite  sunken  sides,  which  recede 
suddenly  near  the  centre,  giving  the  lower  half  a  swollen  appear- 
ance. Skin  quite  yellow  while  hard  and  unripe,  ripening  to  a 
very  bright  yellow  with  small  russet  dots.  Stem  long,  quite  thick, 


258 


VAKIETIES. 


curved,  basin  small  and  shallow.  It  has  often,  even  when  quite 
melting,  coarse  particles  in  the  flesh  :  but  it  is  so  rich,  juicy,  and 
sweet,  high-flavored,  or  occasionally  perfumed,  that  it  must  rank 
best.  The  flavor  is  best  on  the  Quince. 


ST.  MICHAEL  ARCHANGE. 

OCTOBEE. 


The  tree  of  this  variety  is  of  unsurpassed  elegance.     Fruit,  long 


pyriform,  large, 
greenish  yellow, 
dotted  with  rus- 
set. Stem  not 
long,  quite  fleshy 
at  base,  set  with- 
out cavity.  Flesh 
melting,  some- 
what granular, 
full  of  rich,  aro- 
matic juice,  and 
when  in  perfec- 
tion, excelled  by 
few.  Excellent 
on  quince  or  pear, 
and  very  produc- 
tive. 

This  pear  has 
had  the  fortune 
of  many  other 
fruits,  to  acquire 
a  reputation  for 
mediocrity,  be- 
cause it  was 
judged  from  fruit 
taken  from  young 
trees. 


Fig.  112. 


ADDITIONAL   LIST. 


259 


Fig.  118. 


TYSON. 

LATE     IN     AUGUST. 

A  native  of  the  vicinity  of  Philadelphia,  known  before  the  pre- 
sent century.  It  has 
never  come  into  gene- 
al  cultivation,  though 
recommended  by  the 
American  Pomologi- 
cal  Society.  A  vigor- 
ous and  upright  grow- 
er, young  shoots  red- 
dish brown:  a  very 
tardy,  but  abundant 
bearer.  Fruit,  small 
to  medium,  pyriform, 
tapering  to  the  stem, 
which  is  long,  curved, 
and  set  with  a  fleshy 
junction,usuallyswol- 
len  on  one  side  ;  dull 
yellow,  with  russet 
red  blush  on  thecheek, 
often  with  dark,  al- 
most black,  spots. 
Flesh  white,  melting, 
and  juicy,  with  rich, 
sugary,  aromatic  fla- 
vor. For  most  local- 
ities, perhaps,  fully 
equal  to  the  Blood- 
good.  Should  be 
grown  on  the  Quince 
on  account  of  its  lar- 
dinesa 


260 


VARIETIES. 


WATERLOO. 


Fondante  Charmeuse, 
Desiree  Van  Mons, 
Exccllentissima, 
Beurre  Charmeuse, 


Belle  Excellent, 
Delices  des  Charmeusea, 
Beurre  de  Waterlo, 
Due  de  Brabant. 


OCTOBBB     AND      NOVEMBKB. 


A  beautiful,  ex- 
cellent Belgian 
Pear,  more  com- 
monly known  as 
Fondante  Char- 
meuse. It  is  vig- 
orous and  produc- 
tive, and  promises 
•well  for  general 
cultivation.  Fruit 
large,  pyriform, 
with  uneven  sides; 
calyx  large;  basin 
rather  deep  and 
irregular;  stem 
long  and  curved, 
set  in  flesh  rising 
to  meet  it;  flesh 
verybuttery.  melt- 
ing with  abund- 
ant rich,  vinous 
juice ;  s-kin  green- 
ish, with  deep 
crimson  blush. 


Fig.  114 


PAET  IX.— GATHEKING,  MABKETIXG, 
FKUIT-KOOMS. 

SOILS   AS   AFFECTING-   QUALITY   OF   PEAKS. 

THERE  is  nothing  more  striking  in  the  cultivation  of  this  fruit 
than  the  variation  of  flavor  and  texture  in  the  same  varieties,  on 
different  soils.  This  causes  the  vexatious  contradictions  respect- 
ing the  value  of  any  and  every  variety.  To  one,  the  Louise  Bonne 
de  Jersey  seems  to  deserve  all  the  execration,  and  to  another  all 
the  adulation,  which  words  can  express. 

The  color  of  any  variety  also  varies  on  different  soils,  so  that 
the  fruit  almost  defies  identification.  But  this  change  is  as  often 
the  result  of  cultivation.  The  Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey  and  the 
Beurre  Diel  are  particularly  noted  for  their  superiority  on  sandy 
loams,  while  the  Onondaga  and  Virgalieu  are  best  on  strong  clay 
soils. 

The  adaptation  of  soils  to  different  varieties  can  only  be  ascer 
tained  by  individual  experiment. 

THINNING   FKTJIT. 

Good  soils,  fine  cultivation,  healthy  and  vigorous  trees,  and  all 
the  other  requisites  of  pear-growing,  will  often  fail  of  producing 
fine  fruit,  if  all  that  sets  is  allowed  to  remain  on  the  tree.  The 
fruit  of  the  Bartlett,  Dearborn's  Seedling,  the  Louise  Bonne  de 
Jersey,  and  many  other  varieties,  will  set  in  such  quantities,  that 
if  thinning  is  neglected,  not  one  half  will  reach  full  size,  or  acquire 
their  true"  flavor.  Besides,  these  varieties  yield  fruit  so  early,  that 
the  trees  would  be  ruined  by  this  precocious  fruitfulness.  Two 
years  after  planting,  these  varieties  will  commence  bearing,  and 
not  more  than  from  two  to  a  dozen  specimens  should  be  allowed 
to  ripen  annually  on  each  tree,  until  the  fifth  year.  The  period 
(  261  ) 


262         GATHERING,  MARKETING,  AND   FRUIT-ROOMS. 

for  thinning  is,  when  the  pears  are  from  a  half  to  three  quarters 
of  an  inch  in  diameter ;  for,  as  many  fall  soon  after  forming,  it  is 
not  until  then  the  healthy  and  perfect  ones  can  be  distinguished. 
Not  more  than  one-half  of  the  thinning  should  be  done  at  once, 
and  the  others  may  be  allowed  to  remain  until  we  can  ascertain 
the  imperfect  fruit  to  be  removed. 

GATHERING. 

There  are  but  few  of  the  finer  varieties  that  are  not  improved 
by  gathering  before .  they  are  fully  ripe.  Not  a  few  have  been 
discarded  as  unworthy  of  cultivation,  which,  by  early  picking,  im- 
prove so  as  to  rank  among  the  first  in  excellence.  Several  varie- 
ties rot  at  the  core  when  left  upon  the  tree  till  fully  ripe,  which 
will  keep  for  weeks  when  picked  earlier.  Among  these  are,  the 
Flemish  Beauty,  Beurre  Diel,  and  sometimes  the  Louise  Bonne  de 
Jersey. 

The  true  test  of  the  proper  condition  for  gathering  is,  the  cleav- 
ing of  the  stem  from  the  spur,  without  breaking,  when  slightly 
raised.  Some  varieties,  indeed,  should  not  be  left  so  long  even  as 
this ;  the  fruit  should  not  be  picked  in  a  wet  and  cloudy  day,  or  in 
early  morning  when  the  dew  is  upon  it,  as  its  flavor  is  much 
affected  by  the  moisture,  and  its  keeping  properties  much  injured. 
When  it  is  necessary  to  gather  it  under  such  circumstances,  it 
should  be  exposed  to  the  light  and  air  until  completely  dry.  Pears 
picked  in  the  middle  of  a  sunny  day  are  much  superior  in  flavor, 
and  keep  better;  early  gathering  is  only  necessary  for  the  summer 
and  autumn  varieties.  On  the  other  hand,  the  late-keeping  and 
winter  kinds  should  be  picked  as  late  in  the  season  as  the  frost 
will  allow.  Some  of  them,  such  as  the  Easter  Beurre,  require  a 
long  season  to  mature. 

A  dry  and  moderately  cool  apartment  should  be  appropriated  to 
the  storage  and  ripening  of  summer  fruits,  and  to  no  other  pur- 
pose at  the  same  time, 

There  is  no  doubt,  that  under  certain  conditions  of  heat  and 
moisture,  absorption  as  well  as  evaporation  goes  on  through 
the  skin  of  the  pear.  If  vegetables  are  stored  in  one  part  of  the 
room,  harnesses  and  lumber  in  another,  and  decaying  apples  and 


•  MARKETING    PEAKS.  263 

peaches,  and  perhaps  the  rubbish  and  debris  of  last  year's  opera- 
tions remain  in  a  third,  feculent  exhalations  are  absorbed  by  the 
skin  of  the  fruit  in  sufficient  quantities  to  change  its  flavor. 

Mr.  WM.  REED,  of  Elizabeth,  whose  nursery  is  almost  the  per- 
fection of  taste  and  skill,  after  having  expressed  strong  disapproval 
of  the  quality  of  the  Vicar,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Pomological 
Society,  writes,  with  characteristic  frankness,  to  the  President :  u  I 
must  withdraw  my  observations  against  the  Vicar,  for  since  our 
meeting  I  have  ripened  mine  in  a  new  fruit-rcom.  and  found  the 
fruit  perfectly  melting — more  than  good — nearly  first-rate." 

MARKETING   PEARS. 

A  number  of  pear  cultivators  have  experienced  great  disappoint- 
ment in  the  marketing  of  fine  fruit,  from  the  indifferent  prices 
offered.  This  has  always  been  entirely  due  to  improper  gathering 
and  ripening.  Marketmen  will  not  buy  fruit  already  ripe,  to  be 
kept  for  several  days  for  sale  to  the  retailers,  who,  in  turn,  must 
keep  it  as  long  for  sale  to  the  consumers ;  nor  will  the  retailers  buy 
pears  entirely  green,  as  few  of  them  are  sufficiently  acquainted 
with  the  varieties,  to  be  certain  how  they  will  ripen  up  in  color 
and  in  flavor. 

Some  of  the  fruits  should  ripen  in  the  hands  of  the  large  dealers, 
that  they  may  be  exhibited  as  samples,  being  put  in  their  hands 
when  green  and  hard.  The  great  mistake  usually  made  by  pear- 
growers  is,  to  send  the  fruit  to  market  after  ripening,  in  such  a 
condition  that  it  will  not  bear  transportation,  and  often  reaches 
its  destination  badly  jammed,  if  not  a  mass  of  rottenness. 

The  second  error  is,  for  the  grower  to  endeavor  to  market  his 
own  fruit.  Few  retailers  will,  in  such  cases,  offer  more  than  one- 
third  or  one-half  of  the  price  they  expect  to  pay  when  their  trade 
demands  an  immediate  supply. 

Bruising  in  the  gathering  is  not  unfrequently  the  cause  of  a  low 
price.  Bruised  fruit  will  not  bring  one  quarter  of  the  current 
rate.  The  rules  which  should  guide  a  fruit-grower  in  marketing 
his  fruit  are  these  : 

1 .  Summer  and  autumn  varieties  must  be  picked,  and  sent  to 
market  when  green  and  hard,  must  be  packed  tight  in  barrels  or 


264         GATHERING,  MARKETING,  AND   FKU IT-ROOMS. 

cases,  with  coarse  matting  around  the  sides,  top,  and  bottom,  so 
that  they  cannot  shake  about. 

2.  They  must  be  directed  plainly  to  some  reputable  commission 
salesman,  whose  entire  business  is  the  sale  of  fruit,  giving  him 
instructions  to  keep  them,  until,  in  his  judgment,  they  would  sell 
to  the  best  advantage.     The  price  thus  obtained  will  usually  far 
exceed  that  which  the  grower  could  procure  for  himself. 

3.  The  price  of  pears  is  governed  by  their  color  and  size,  as 
well  as  by  their  flavor.     The  Seckel  is  the  only  exception  to  the 
rule,  that  none  but  yellow  pears  will  command  the  highest  price. 

COLORING  AND    RIPENING    OF    SUMMER   AND   AUTUMN 
PEARS. 

While  many  varieties  will  ripen  upon  the  tree  with  rich  golden 
or  crimson  colors,  like  the  Bartlett  and  Seckel,  all  varieties  of 
pears  will  attain  a  richer  tint  as  well  as  higher  flavor  by  a  little 
attention.  For  the  attainment  of  the  best  result,  darkness,  warmth, 
and  masses  of  fruit  are  necessary.  The  fruit  picked  green  should 
be  "exposed  long  enough  to  become  perfectly  dry,  and  is  then  packed 
in  cloth-lined  barrels  and  cases.  The  following,  from  a  report  of 
a  Committee  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society,  exhibits 
the  results  of  attention  to  minute  particulars  : 

"  Mr.  JOHN  GORDON,  of  Brighton,  Mass.,  cultivates  between  three 
and  four  acres,  the  most  part  of  which  is  trenched  and  under-drained, 
and  almost  entirely  covered  with  pear  trees,  thickly  planted,  two-thirds 
of  which  are  on  quince  stocks.  Mr.  G.  raises  but  few  varieties,  and 
those  such  as  he  finds  sell  most  readily  in  the  market,  and  make  the 
most  profitable  return.  All  his  fruit  is  carefully  picked  by  hand ;  and 
some  five  or  six  days  before  designing  it  for  market,  it  is  carefully 
packed  away  in  boxes  twenty  inches  square,  and  six  or  eight  in  depth, 
with  a  woollen  cloth  lining  at  the  bottom,  on  which  is  placed  one  layer 
of  pears ;  that  is  covered  with  woollen  cloth,  and  another  layer  of  ]>• 
when  the  box  is  covered  more  thickly  with  woollen  cloth,  and  placed 
away  for  what  he  calls  the  sweating  process,  which  gives  the  fruit  a 
rich  coloring,  and  ripens,  it  for  market.  Mr.  GORDON  states  that  cotton 
does  not  produce  the  same  effect,  nor  ripen  the  fruit  so  fast,  And  that 
the  result  of  this  care  is  best  seen  in  the  prices  obtained  in  marketing  ; 
for  while  his  Bartletti  were  yielding  him  ten  dollars  a  bushel  In  Boston, 


RIPENING    OF    WINTER   PEAKS.  265 

other  wagons  by  the  side  of  his  contained  pears  of  that  variety  which 
were  sold  for  only  three  dollars  a  bushel,  on  account  of  their  unripened 
condition." 

RIPENING    OF    WINTER    PEARS. 

Much  chagrin  has  been  experienced  by  those  who,  for  the  first 
time,  have  attempted  to  ripen  winter  pears.  Many  varieties  pro- 
claimed by  the  books  as  ripening  from  December  to  April,  obsti- 
nately persist  in  becoming-  melting  and  luscious  in  November  and 
early  December. 

The  Winter  Nelis,  the  Lawrence,  the  Beurre  d'Hiver,  and  others, 
attain  this  delicious  maturity  in  the  early  part  of  December,  in- 
stead of  keeping  sound  and  hard  till  February.  But  the  most 
disheartening  and  vexatious  phase  of  the  matter  is,  the  withering, 
shrivelling,  and  premature  rotting  of  the  pears,  to  which  a  still 
later  maturity  has  been  attributed.  The  Easter  Beurre,  Glout 
Morceau,  Doyenne  d'Alen9on,  lose  a  great  quantity  of  their  juice 
by  evaporation,  and  resemble  a  potato  kept  one  year,  quite  as 
much  as  a  pear. 

The  Pear,  unlike  the  Apple,  has  little  or  no  oleaginous  matter 
deposited  upon  the  skin,  to  prevent  the  rapid  evaporation  of  its 
juice,  and  preserve  it  from  shrivelling,  so  that  the  porous  and  un- 
protected skin  of  the  Pear  readily  allows  its  juice  to  escape.  In 
all  efforts  to  preserve  it,  therefore,  we  must  keep  in  view  this 
defect.  Some  attempts  to  form  an  artificial  covering  by  varnishes. 
&c.,  have  been  made,  but  they  have  all  been  conducted  without 
reference  to  the  conditions  necessary  for  ripening,  being  only  in- 
tended for  the  preservation  of  the  fruit. 

The  law  which  governs  these  conditions  may  "be  stated  as  fol- 
lows :  As  it  is  only  by  contact  with  the  atmosphere  that  pears  can 
be  ripened,  and  as  that  very  atmosphere  abstracts  the  vital  fluids  of 
the  fruit,  it  becomes  a  necessity  that  the  pear  should  not  be  in  con- 
tact with  free  or  moving  atmosphere  until  the  period  of  ripening  has 
arrived-. 

The  Pear,  like  the  Apple,  is  composed  of  the  proximate  elements, 
starch,  sugar, -and  albumen,  with  water  and  malic  acid.  The  ripen- 
ing  of  the  fruit  is  the  completion  of  that  chemical  process  by  which 
starch  is  changed  into  sugar,  and  is  always  the  first  step  towards 

12 


266         GATHERING,  MARKETING,  AND   FRUIT-ROOMS. 

decay.  Fruit  has  reached  the  point  of  highest  excellence  when  it 
contains  the  greatest  quantity  of  sugar,  and  the  sugar  in  contact 
with  the  albumen  has  not  commenced  the  putrid  or  acetous  fer 
mentation. 

By  protecting  them  from  free  atmosphere  ki  close  cases,  and  by 
preservation  in  a  cool  apartment,  \ve  are  enabled  to  delay  the  ripen- 
ing and  prevent  the  withering  of  pears.  There  is,  however,  a 
fixed  limit  to  this  preservation.  The  inherent  tendency  to  decay, 
which  pervades  all  organized  matter,  prevents  us  from  more  than 
temporarily  postponing  it.  The  Duchesse  d'Angouleme,  which 
may,  by  skillful  management,  be  kept  till  Christmas,  can  by  no 
means  be  preserved  as  Ion?  as  the  Easter  Beurre. 

After  a  pear  has  become  somewhat  withered,  it  can  never  ripen 
fairly,  as  sufficient  water  is  not  present  to  perfect  the  change.  It 
will  be  seen  at  once,  that  all  the  elaborate  instruction  for  shelving 
an  apartment,  and  laboriously  placing  the  fruit .  in  single  layers 
thereon,  so  as  not  to  touch,  are  in  entire  contradiction  to  the  rules 
above  noted.  It  has  confounded  many  an  amateur,  to  find  his 
plain  and  unscientific  neighbor  with  an  abundance  of  pears  at 
Christmas,  while  his  own  had  all  long  before  decayed. 

A  gentleman  who  had  but  half  a  bushel  of  Glout  Morceau 
Pears,  preserved  them  till  late  in  January, bj  flie  following  plan: 
A  barrel  was  half  filled  with  sound  Baldwin  apples,  in  November, 
the  pears  placed  upon  them,  and  the  barrel  filled  with  apples,  and 
put  away  in  a  dry  cellar ;  when  taken  out,  the  pears  were  fresh 
and  green  as  when  first  picked,  needing  but  an  exposure  of  a  week 
or  more  in  a  warm  room  to  become  golden  in  color  and  deliciously 
melting  and  juicy. 

All  our  winter  pears  need  a  somewhat  longer  season  than  we 
usually  have  north  of  New  York  City.  This  renders  their  quality 
a  little  uncertain;  but  some  attention  to  their  growth  will  usually 
obviate  Ihis  uncertainty.  The  large  amount  of  acid  juice  which 
they  contain  must  be  overcome  by  the  alcoholic  or  saccharine 
change.  If  the  amount  of  the  sugar-producing  principle  which 
the  trees  derive  from  the  soil,  or  from  the  atmosphere,  is  too  small, 
the  ripening  will,  necessarily,  be  imperfect.  The  true  remedy  for 
this  would  naturally  seem  to  be,  that  which  practice  has  proved 


FRUIT-BOOMS.  267 

to  be  correct.  The  small-sized  and  badly-shaped  fruit  must  be 
thinned  out  early  in  the  season.  The  rest  should  be  allowed  to 
remain  on  the  tree  as  long  as  safe  from  freezing,  and  packed  away 
soon  after  gathering,  in  cases  with  limited  ventilation.  Judgment 
must  be  exercised  in  determining  the  amount  of  fruit  to  remain  on 
a  tree.  The  quantity  of  winter  pears  must  be  less  than  is  allow- 
able in  the  case  of  summer  or  autumn  pears. 

Without  question,  winter  pears,  like  other  fruit,  can  only  ripen 
perfectly  in  masses.  There  is  some  undiscovered  influence  in  the 
contact  of  fruit  with  fruit,  that  gives  to  masses  a  perfection  of 
flavor  unattainable  with  small  quantities. 

FEUIT-EOOMS. 

For  effecting  these  conditions  of  ripening,  expensive  structures, 
fruit-houses,  and  rooms  have  been  erected,  and  it  is  but  just  to 
say,  have,  in  many  cases,  resulted  only  in  disappointment.  When 
one  has  not  a  good  dry  cellar,  it  may  become  necessary  to  provide 
a  fruit-room,  and  the  reason  why  cellars  are  not  generally  suitable 
for  preserving  fruit  is,  that  they  are  usually  too  damp;  they 
should  be  of  low  and  even  temperature,  and  dark.  Fruit-rooms 
should  be  built  with  double  walls,  confining  a  stratum  of  air  be- 
tween, which  iS  sometimes  more  perfectly  accomplished  by  filling 
in  with  dry  tan,  charcoal  dust,  and  similar  substances.  There 
should  be  but  one  window,  and  that  fitted  with  double  sashes. 
Ventilators  should  be  provided,  which  should  be  allowed  to  change 
the  air  of  the  room  only  sufficiently  to  prevent  its  becoming  feculent 
and  damp.  No  decaying  fruit  should  be  permitted  to  remain  in 
the  room,  nor  any  vegetables  or  substances  having  odor.  A  gentle- 
man who  had  expressed  much  disappointment  with  the  flavor  of 
several  fine  varieties  of  pears,  was  greatly  surprised  by  having  the 
cause  of  the  inferiority  of  his  fruit  pointed  out.  He  at  once  com- 
menced removing  from  his  fruit  room  all  the  materials  belonging 
to  the  harness  and  lumber-room,  the  decaying  matter^accumulated 
in  corners  and  boxes,  and  finished  with  thoroughly  cleansing  and 
whitewashing  the  walls.  The  pears  ripened  in  the  room,  there- 
after, were  not  only  a  source  of  gratification  in  their  fine  flavor, 
but  of  surprise  at  the  means  of  their  perfection.  Other  fruits 


268         GATHERING,  MARKETING,  AND    FRUIT-ROOMS. 

may  be  exposed  on  shelves,  but  pears  should  be  inclosed  iu 
boxes  with  tight-fitting  covers,  or  if  the  quantity  is  large,  in  well- 
made  barrels,  headed  up.  A  fruit-house,  thus  arranged  and  man- 
aged, would  be  a  profitable  adjunct  to  a  fruitery.  But  for  most 
amateurs,  a  dark  closet  in  the  house,  or  a  room  fitted  up  in  the 
cellar,  or  even  the  cellar  itself,  kept  clean  and  sweet,  will  suffice. 
For  small  quantities  of  pears,  cheese-boxes,  with  close  covers,  have 
been  found  cheap  and  convenient.  These  should  be  always  freed 
from  the  odor  of  cheese,  by  cleansing  in  hot  water,  with  soda  or 
potash.  It  has  been  recommended  and  practiced  by  many  to  wrap 
pears  in  paper,  cotton,  and  similar  substances  •  but  I  have  found 
all  such  preparations  worse  than  useless.  They  not  only  absorb 
the  moisture  of  the  pears  more  rapidly  than  the  atmosphere,  but 
they  abstract  the  aroma  of  the  fruit,  and  leave  it  comparatively 
tasteless.  These  substances  being  carbonaceous,  act  as  absorbents 
of  the  peculiar  flavor,  like  charcoal. 

Mr.  BARRY  informed  me,  that  after  many  years  of  experience, 
he  had  found  the  most  effective  means  of  preserving  winter  pears 
to  be :  late  gathering ;  packing  away  carefully  none  but  sound 
fruit,  in  close  barrels,  leaving  them  in  an  open  shed,  only  protected 
from  rain  and  direct  rays  of  the  sun,  as  long  as  the  temperature  is 
above  the  freezing-point. 

The  practical  difficulties  in  the  use  of  fruit-rooms  seem  to  have 
been  overcome  by  Mr.  SCHOOLEY.  The  accompanying  plan  of  his 
Preservatory  has  appeared  in  the  Country  Gentleman,  and  Ameri- 
can Agriculturist.  From  the  latter,  the  description  of  its  con- 
struction, and  the  rationale  of  its  effect  is  extracted. 

Our  illustration  represents  one-half  of  a  building,  supposed  to 
be  divided  through  the  middle,  from  the  ridge-pole  to  the  ground, 
in  order  to  better  show  the  interior  arrangements.  This  structure 
may  be  a  large  one,  twenty  or  thirty  feet  each  way,  or  only  a 
small  room  of  but  a  few  feet  in  size. 

The  side-walls,  w,  w,  and  the  lower  and  upper  floors,  /  and  M, 
are  made  double,  being  filled  in  with  saw-dust.  The  upper  floor, 
however,  consists  of  a  single  layer  of  boards,  nailed  upon  the  under 
side  of  the  joists,  with  the  saw-dust  piled  on  loosely,  a  foot  or  more 
iu  thickness.  Above  this,  is  an  open  space  or  garret,  under  the 


269 


rafters  or  roof,  with  holes  in  each  gable-end  to  admit  a  free  circu 
lation  of  air.  The  main  room  is  divided  into  two  compartments — 
the  fruit-room  and  ice-room — by  the  partition  d.  The  partition  d 
unites  with  the  walls  on  both  front  and  rear,  but  a  small  opening 
of  a  few  inches  is  left  both  above  and  below  it — that  is,  between 
the  whole  length  of  the  lower  and  upper  edges  and  the  floor  ana 
the  ceiling.  The  ice,  as  represented,  is  piled  up  in  a  compact  mass 
in  the  right  division,  and  covered  in  the  usual  manner  with  straw. 
A  email  vacant  space,  v.  is  left  between  the  ice  and  the  division- 


270         GATHERING,  MARKETING,  AND   FRUIT-ROOM8. 

wall,  though  this  is  not  necessary,  unless  the  entire  body  of  ice  is 
so  compact  and  frozen  together  as  to  prevent  the  air  from  circulat- 
ing through  it.  The  floor,  under  the  ice,  descends  to  the  right 
from  /,  so  as  to  carry  any  waste  water  out  at  o.  There  is  an 
ingenious  arrangement  in  the  waste-pipe  to  prevent  the  access  of 
air  or  vermin.  It  will  readily  be  seen,  that  before  the  water  rises 
high  enough  to  overflow  the  right  projection,  or  gate,  the  upper  or 
left-hand  gate  dips  down  into  it,  so  that  the  opening  is  always 
closed  with  water. 

The  air  around  and  among  the  ice  will  always  be  kept  cool.  It 
will,  consequently,  settle  downward,  and  flow  along  under  the 
division-wall,  d,  and  into  the  lower  part  of  the  fruit-room.  At  the 
same  time,  the  warmer  air  will  flow  into  the  ice-room  through  the 
opening  over  the  division-wall.  The  arrows  show  the  direction 
of  the  currents  of  air.  This  motion  will  always  be  kept  up  so 
long  as  the  air  in  the  fruit- room  is  in  the  slightest  degree  warmer 
than  that  in  the  ice-room.  We  see,  then,  that  by  such  an  arrange- 
ment the  fruit-room  is  practically  kept  nearly  as  cool  as  if  actually 
filled  with  ice. 

There  is  another  important  end  secured  by  this  arrangement, 
•viz.,  that  the  air  in  the  fruit-room  is  kept  very  dry.  or  free  from 
moisture.  The  air  always  contains  more  or  less  of  invisible  water 
floating  in  it.  The  amount  of  water  in  the  air  depends  upon  its 
temperature.  The  warmer  air  of  the  fruit-room  takes  up  moist- 
ure from  the  articles  there ;  but  when  it  passes  over  to  the  ice, 
being  there  cooled,  it  gives  up  a  portion  of  this  moisture  to  the  ice, 
flows  back  below  in  a  drier  condition,  to  take  up  more  moisture  as 
it  is  warmed  again.  This  change  goes  on  unceasingly. 

At  e  is  seen  the  entrance  to  the  store-room,  in  which  may  be 
kept  all  kinds  of  food,  vegetables,  fruit,  &c.  Should  the  air  need 
changing  at  any  tims,  to  get  rid  of  odors,  it  is  done  thus :  Just 
under  the  ceiling  is  seen  a  flat  slide.  Moving  this  to  the  left,  two 
holes  through  it  will  be  brought  under  the  two  ventilators,  one 
leading  into  the  open  air  above,  the  other  into  the  garret.  When 
this  is  done,  the  fresh  air  from  the  garret  will  settle  into  the  ice- 
room,  while  the  warm  air  in  the  fruit-room  will  ascend  through 
the  larger  ventilator,  and  pass  off. 


CATALOGUE   OF   PEARS. 


271 


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CATALOGUE    OF    PEARB. 


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CATALOGUE   OF   PEAKS. 


273 


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274 


CATALOGUE   OF   PEARS. 


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CATALOGUE   OF   PEARS. 


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0-A.T-A.riOO-TJE 

OF 

VARIETIES  OF  PEARS  OF  FOREIGN  ORIGIN, 

WITH  THEIR  SYNONYMS  IN  ITALICS. 


Abbe  Mongein. 
Abbe  Edouard. 

Angelique  de  Bordeaux. 
Arnaud  Bivort. 

Belle  Fondante. 
Belle  et  Bonne. 

Agathe  de  L'Escour. 

Althorpe  Orassane. 

Schone  und  Gute. 

Ah  I  Mon  Dieu. 

Ambrosia. 

Gracieuse. 

D'Abondance. 

Early  Beurre. 

Belle  lucrative. 

D'Amour. 

Angleterra. 

Bergamotte  lucrative. 

Alberty. 

F.ii  ij  Iwh  Beurre. 

Beurre  lucratif. 

Alexandre  Berkmans. 

Beurre  d'Angleterre. 

Bergamote  Ficref. 

Alexandre  Bivort. 

Fondante  d'Automne. 

Alexandre  Lambre. 

Bartlett. 

Grosilliere. 

Alexandrina. 

\Villiiims. 

Seigneur  Esperin. 

A  Longue  Queue. 
Alphonso  Karr. 

Williams'  Bon  Chretien. 
Poire  Gnillaume. 

Bellissime  d'Ete. 
A  deux  yeux. 

Ambrette. 

Dela  Vault, 

Jargonnelle    of  the 

Epineuse. 

Clement  Doyenne. 

French. 

Ami  re  Johannet 

Barbancinet. 

Saline  d'Ete. 

Saint-Jean. 

Baronne  de  Mclo. 

Supreme. 

Ananas. 

Adele  de  Saint-Ceras. 

Bergamot  Buffo. 

Angelique  de  Bordeaux. 

Anirelique  de  Koine. 
AiiLrloterred'Iliver. 

Beau  present  d'Artois. 
Present  royal  de  Naples. 
Bt.le  dc  Bruxelles. 

(  'rapand. 
Beurre  BenuchamfS. 
Beauchamps. 

Asgora. 

Beurre  de  Bruxelles. 

Bergamotte  Cadette. 

Arlequin  musque. 

Belle  do  Bruxelles  without 

Poire  de  Cadet. 

A.-.ton  town. 

kernel. 

Belle  de  Brissac, 

Auger. 
Atii,'ii>to  do  Boulogne. 

AiiL'iir4iuu  Lelieur. 

Belle  UAout,  or  August. 
Belle  de  1'erron 
^oel. 

incorrectly  Ogun 
Bergamote,  Crassanne. 

Aurate. 
Adelaide  de  Keves. 

Apres  Noel. 
Fondamte  Noel. 

Bergamote,  a  Feuilles  Pan« 
achees. 

Alpha. 
Ananas  de  Courtrai. 

Souvenir  Esperen. 
Belle  du  Plessis. 

Bergamote  Crassanne  d'Ete 
Bergamote  d'An-rlcterre. 

Ananas  d'ICio. 

Belle  Julie. 

Ber^amote  d'Automne. 

Arl.rc  Courbe. 

Aleasandre  HeUe. 

Grosse  Amln'ftte. 

Amiral. 

Hello  Vcrnio.  or  Vornis. 

note  d'Ertrycher. 

Colmar  C/tarnay. 

I'i  //'*f:.v  </f'    )/^);^x 

I  >crir;iriiot^  (ri'<tt\ 

Au^uste  Hover. 
Autumn  Oof  mar. 

Hi'lh'  I'lpillodll  AfftB. 

ZtaeKM. 

/ii'urre  hlijnc.  or  white. 
Beurre  il'E!?. 

Amadote. 

t'offi  efort. 

Beurre  Ronde. 

Beurre  Know. 

Milan  Blanc. 

Haeht 

/><•       /.'it'//:         ,'l'IIKtrt. 

Mi  Ian  <!,'  la-  Beuvriere. 

Beurre  Bla  it:  •  <lt>  C>ipn- 

/>//,••/,  Bora 

Moltilli'    lllillcflf. 

citis. 
Ambrette. 

Ff,iii,'dn  .Wi*.                                             Tiinachea 
aote  Drouet. 

Ann^ette  Epineuse.                        •/'//  A'ochoir.           Bergimote  Dussart. 

(     276     ) 


CATALOGUE  OF  PEAKS. 


277 


Bergamota  de  Heimbourg.1 
Bergamotc  Esperen. 
Bergamotte  Gansels. 

Brocas  Bergamot. 

Ives'  Bergamot. 

Staunton. 

Bonne  Rouge. 

Gurles  Beurre. 

Diamant. 

Bergamotte  d'Esperin. 
Bergamotte  Gaudry. 
Bergamotte  Lesefle. 
Bergamotte  de  Millepieds. 
Bergamotte  d'Hollande. 

Holland  Bergamotte. 

Beurre  d'Alencon. 

Bergamotte  d'Alencon. 

Jardin  de,  Jougers. 

Bergamotte  de  Fougere. 

Amoselle. 

Lord  Gheeneys. 

Sarah. 
Bergamot,  Easter. 

Beryamotte  de  Paques. 

Bergamotte  d'Hiver. 

Bergamotte  deBugi. 

Bergamotte  de  Toulouse 

Roberts1 s  Keeping. 

Winter  Bergamotte. 

Paddrington. 

Royal  Fairling. 

Tuling. 

St.  Herplain  d'Hiver. 

Doyenne  d'Hiver. 

Soldat. 

Bergamot,  Lageret. 
Begamot,  Suisse. 

Swiss  Bergamot. 
Bergamot,  Autumn. 

English  Bergamot. 

Common  Bergamot. 

York  Bergamot. 

English  Autumn  Berg- 
amot. 

Bergamot,  Early. 
Be»gamot,  Summer. 
Bergamot,  Hampden's. 

Summer  Bergamot. 

Bergamot  d'Angleterre. 

Fingal's. 

Bergamotte  d'Ete. 

Scotch  Bergamot. 

Ellanrioch. 
Bergamotte  de  Malines. 
Bergamotte  de  Parthenay. 

Poireau. 
Bergamotte,  Kose. 
Beurre  Antoine. 

Saint  Germain  fondant. 

Beurre  Antoinette. 

Beurre  Auneniere. 

Beurre  Bachelier. 

Beurre  Beauchanip. 

Beurre  Benoist. 

Benoite. 

Beurre  Auguste  Benoit. 


Beurre  Berckmans. 
Beurre  Biemont. 
Beurre  blanc  de  Nantes. 

Beurre  de  Nantes. 

Beurre  Nantais. 
Beurre  Bosc. 

Boscs  Thascherlirne. 
Beurre,  Easter. 

Bergamotte  de  la  Pent- 
eeote. 

Beurre  de  la  Pentecote. 

Beurre  d'Hiver  deBrux- 
elles. 

Doyenne  d'Hiver. 

Doyenne  du  Printemps. 

Beurre  Roupe. 

Du  Patre. 

Bturre  de  Paques. 

Phillipe  de  Paques. 

Bezi   Chaumontel    tres 
gros. 

Chaumontel  tres  gros. 

Canning. 

Seigneur  d'Hiver. 
Beurre  Gris  d'Hiver  Nou- 
veau. 

Beurre  Gris  d'lfiver. 

Beurre  Gris  de  Lucon. 

BeurreGris  Superieure 

Beurre  de  Fontenay. 
Beurre  d'Anjou. 

NePlus  Meuris. 

Nee  Plus  Meuris. 
Beurre  Diel. 

Diels  Butterbirne. 

Diel. 

Dorethee  Royale. 

Gros  Dorethee. 

Celeste. 

Des  tres  Tours. 

Dillon,  or  Gros  Dillon. 

Sylvanche  vert  d'Hiver. 

Beurre  Royale. 

MaUlle.     * 

Beurre  d*  Yelie. 

De  Melon. 

Melin  de  Kops. 

Royal. 

Dry-toren. 

Florimond. 
Beurre  Incomparable. 
Beurre  Magnvfique. 
Beurre  Sterkmans. 

Doyenne  Sterkmans. 

Bell  Alliance. 
Beurre  Navez. 

Colmar  Navez. 
Beurre  Richelieu. 
Beurre  d'Aremberg. 

Orpheline  d'Enghien. 

Due  d'Aremberg. 

Deschamps. 

Colmar  Deschamps. 

.D'Aremberg  par/ait. 

V  Orpheline. 

Beurre  des  Orpheline. 


Beurre  Speiice. 
Beurre  Amande. 

Almond  Pear. 

Noisette. 

Beurre  Judes. 

Beurre  d  Angleterre. 

Longue  de  Narkouts. 

Monkorothy 
Beurre  Fougierre. 
Beurre  Beaulieu. 
Beurre  Winter. 
Beurre  Bennert. 
Beurre  Six. 
Beurre  Drapiez. 
Beurre  Soulange. 
Beurre  de  Montgeron. 

New  Frederick  of  Wir> 

temberg. 

Beurre  de  Quenast. 
Beurre  Scheidweiler. 
Beurre  Citron. 
Beurre  d'Elberg. 
Beurre  Duhaume. 
Beurre  de  Brignais. 

Des  Nonnes. 

Poire  des  Nones. 
Beurre  Leon  le  Clerc. 
Beurre  Brown. 

Beurre  Gris. 

Gray  Beurre. 

Beurre  d'Amfooise. 

Beurre  Dore. 

Beurre  Isambert. 

Beurre  Rouge. 

Red  Beurre. 

Beurre. 

Golden  Beurre. 

Beurre  d'Or. 

Beurre  d'Ambleuse. 

Beurre  Vert. 

Beurre  du  Roi. 

Isambert  le  Bon, 

incor.  Beurre  d'Anjovt* 
Beurre  d'Amaulis. 

Beurre  d'Amanlis. 

Beurre  d'Amalis. 

Wilheinmine. 
Beurre    d'Amaulis,  var. 
Beurre  Colmar. 

Colmar  d'Automne. 
Beurre  Millet  of  Guernsey. 

Mollet's  Guernsey  Chau* 

montel. 
Beurre  Kance. 

Beurre  de  Ranz. 

Beurre  de  Flandre. 

Beymonte. 

Bon  Chretien  de  Ranee. 

Beurre  Nairchain. 

Hardenpont   de    Prin* 
tem-ps. 

Beurre  Epine. 
Beurre  Bieumont. 

Beymonte. 
Beurre  de  Mortfontaine. 

Beurre  Lefevre. 


278 


CATALOGUE  OF  PEAKS. 


Beurre  Bolsfunel. 
Beurre  de  Gommery. 
Beurre  de  Hamptienne. 
Beurre  Precoce. 
Beurre  Van  de  Putte. 
Beurre  de  Beaumont. 

Bezi  Vaet. 
Beurre  Seutin. 
Beurre  Kenrick. 
Beurre  Knox. 
Beurre  Bretonneau. 
Beurre  Bronze. 
Beurre  Brougham. 
Beurre  Bruneau. 

Saint  Herblain. 

Crassanne  Bruneau, 
Beurre  Burnicq. 
Beurre  Capiaumont. 

Capiamont. 

Aurore. 
Beurre  d'Angleterre. 

Archiduc  Charles. 

Bee  d'Oie. 
Beurre  d'Avoine. 
Beurre  de  Bollwiller 
Beurre  de  Koning. 
Beurre  de  Launay. 
Beurre  de  Moise. 
Beurre  de  Paimpol. 
Beurre  de  Heine. 
Beurre  Charron. 
Beurre  Chatenay. 
Beurre  Clairgeau. 
Beurre  Coloma. 

Capucine  d' Autumn. 
Beurre  Curtet. 

Comte  'Lami. 

Beurre,  Qnetelet. 
Beurre  d'Albret. 
Beurre  des  Beguines. 
Beurre  d'Ecole. 
Beurre  Defais. 
Beurre  Derouineau. 
Beurre  d'Enghien. 
Beurre  d'Hardenpont. 
Beurre  Duval. 
Beurre  Gens. 
Bourn-  Gittard. 
Beurre  Goubault. 
lieurre  Gris  d'Hiver,  the 

old. 

Beurre  de  Zuriok. 
Beurre  Milan  d'l liver. 
Beurre  Gris    d'ilivcr     de 

Lncon. 

Beurre  Hamecker. 
Beurre  Hanh. 
BtMirre  Kennes. 
Beiinv  Knight. 
Heunv  K'l.-sutl]. 
Beurre  LanjMier. 
Bourn-  I.oi.M-1. 
I:. 'iii-re  Millet. 

Beam  Moire. 
Beurre  Mondelle. 
Beurre  Noisette. 


Beurre  Oudinot. 
Beurre  Payen. 
Beurre  Philippe  Delfosse. 
Beurre  Remain. 
Beurre  Saint  Louis. 
Beurre  Saint  Nicholas. 

Duchesse  d*  Orleans. 
Beurre  Seringe. 

Doyenne  fondant. 
Beurre  Superfin. 
Beurre  Wetteren. 
Besi  Liboutton. 
Besi  du  Caissoy  or  Quessoy. 

Roussette  d'Anjou. 
Bezy  Quessoy  d'Ete. 
Besi  de  Chassery. 

Echassery. 
Besi  de  Chaumontel 

Do.,  Variegated. 
Bezi  d'Heri. 

Bezi  Royal, 

Rumelbirne. 
Besi  Bosnian. 
Bezi  de  Montigny 

Louis  Boso. 

Doyenne  Mutque. 

Trouve  de  Montigny. 

Beurre  Jiomain. 
Bezi  de  La  Nfotte. 

Beurre  blanc  de  Jersey. 

Bein  Armandi. 
Bezy  Gamier. 

Gamier. 
Besi  de  Vindre. 
Bezi  des  Veterans. 

Kameau. 
Bezi  Kspercn. 
Bezi  Goubalt. 
Bezi  Incomparable. 

Bezi  Sanxpariel. 

Bergamotte,  Sanspariel. 
Be/i  baint  Vaast. 

Beurre  Beaumont. 
Bezi,  Tardy. 
Bonne  d  Ez  e. 

Bonne  des  Ifaiea. 

Bonne  tie  Zees. 

Bonne  de  Longueval. 

Belle  et  Bonne  d'Ezee. 
Bon  Chretien  Fondante. 
Bon  Gustave. 
Bonn<>  Charlotte. 

Bon  Chretien  Flemish. 

Bon  Chretien  de  Turc. 
Bon  Chretien  d  Espagne. 

Bon  Chretien  bpanit,h. 
Bon  Chretien  d'Ete. 

Gracioli. 

Rted's  Seedling. 
Bon  Chretien  d'Hiver. 

Bon      Chretien     d"An- 

goifise. 
Bon  Chretien  d'Angoisse— 

vari^eated. 
Bishop's  Thumb. 
Black  Worcester. 


Black  Pear  of  Worces- 
ter. 

Parkin Hori s  Warden. 
Bois  Napoleon. 
Bon  Parent. 
Bonne  Emilia 
Blanquet  Alexis. 
Blanquet  a  Long  Queue. 
Blanquet  de  Saintonge. 
Blanquet  le  Gros. 

Roi  Louis. 
Blanquet  le  Petit 

Blanquet  a  la  Perle. 

Blanche  Fleur. 

Cire 

Blanquet  Precoce. 
Boucquia. 

Beurre  Boucquia. 
Bourgemester. 

Bouvier  Bourgemester. 
Brougham. 
Brandes. 

Saint  Germain   Bran- 

des. 

Brialeinont 
Broom  Park. 

Sobden  Court. 

Cadet  de  Vaux. 
Caillot  Eosat. 
Calebasse  Bosc. 
Calebasse  de  Bavay. 
Calebaese  Delvigne. 
Calebusse  d'Ete. 
Calebasse  Musk. 
Calebassc  Tougard. 
Calebasse  Verte. 

Calebasse  Green. 
Calebasse. 

C'tlebasseDouble  Extra. 

Cftlebatme  d Ilollande. 

Beurre  de  Payence. 
Caen  de  France. 
Camerlyn. 
Cassante  de  Mars. 
Cutinka. 

Charles  Van  Houghten. 
Charles  Smit. 
Charles  Frederick. 
Chariot**  de  Brower. 
Colmai  <l'Al(>,st. 
Count  Lelinir. 
Comp*e  of  Purls. 
V  Miipte.  of  Flanders. 

osfilier  de  lu  Cuur. 

Jtarechal  de  la  Cow. 
Calebasse  Gro.ve. 

Calfbaxse  Moni>tre. 

Carnfou 

Poire  dim  four. 

Boulellr.      ' 

Ti  i"iti i the  de  Nord.. 

Tfionti>he<te  //aslet. 
Cotn[)t('  de  Lumy. 

Beurre  Curti. 

Dingier. 


CATALOGUE   OF   PEARS. 


279 


Marie  Louise  Nora.         Croft  Castle. 

Due  de  Nemours. 

Marie  Louise  the  Sec- 

Beurre Navez. 

ond,                            i  D'Aloutte. 

Louis  Bosc. 

Conseiller  Ranwez.                Dame  Verte. 

Dumont  Dumortier, 

ConseUler  deRanweze.     De  Bavay. 

Duvernay. 

Coter.                                    !     Poire  de  Bavay. 

Doyenne  Bossouck. 

Crassane  d'Hjver. 

De  Coq. 

Doyenne  Bossouck  Nou- 

Caperon du  Mons. 

De  Deux  Ors  1'An. 

velle. 

Capucin  Van  Mons. 

De  Lamartine. 

Double  Philipe. 

Cent  Couronnes. 

Do  Lestuinire. 

Beurre  de  Merode. 

Chair  a  Dame. 

Delices  Charles. 

Nouvelle  Boussouck. 

Cherroise. 
Choice  of  an  Amateur. 

Delices  de  Jodoigne. 
Delices  de  Louvenjoul. 

Doyenne  d'Alencon. 
Doyenne  d"1  River  d'Al- 

Colmar. 

De  Louvoyan. 

encon. 

Maunne. 

Delices  de  la  Meuse. 

Doyenne  Gris  d'Hiver 

De  Maune. 

Delices    d'Hardenpont.  of 

Nouveau. 

Incomparable. 

Angers. 

Doyenne  Marbre. 

Winter  Virgnlieu. 

Delices  d'Hardenpont.    of 

Doyenne  d  Hiver  Nou- 

Colmar  Artoisenet. 

Belgium. 

veau. 

Colmar  d'Arernberg. 

Fondante  Pariselle. 

St.  Michal  d'  Hiver 

Cartofell. 
Colmar  d'Automne    Nou- 

Delices  Dumortier. 
Des  Chasseurs. 

Doyenne  d'Ete. 
Summer  Doyenne. 

veau. 

Des  deux  Sceurs. 

Duchesse  de  Berry  dEtt 

Colmar  de  Silly. 

Des  Ternplirs  Blanc. 

of  Bivort. 

Colmar  des  Invalidea. 

Dingier. 

Doyenne  Sieulle. 

Van  Mons. 

Docteur  Bouvier. 

Sieulle. 

Colmar  d'Ete. 

Docteur  Caperon. 

Beurre  Sieulle. 

Colmar  Musque. 

Docteur  Trousseau. 

Bergamotte  Sieulle. 

Col  mar  Souverain. 

De  Louvain. 

Doyenne  Gray. 

Ooltin. 

Poire  de  Louvain 

Gray  Batter  Pear. 

Citron  des  Carmes  a  Long 

Bezy  de  Louvain. 

Gray  Deans. 

Queue. 

DeSorlus. 

Gray  Doyenne. 

Countesse  d'Alost. 
Conntesse  de  Lunay. 

Bergamotte  de  Sorlus. 
Decree  Cornells. 

Red  Doyenne,. 
St.  Michel  Dore. 

Cops  Heat. 

Cornells. 

Doyenne  Galeux. 

Cornelia. 

De  Tongres. 

Doyenne  Roux. 

Crassane  Althorpe. 

Dundas. 

Doyenne  divert. 

Catillac. 

Elhot  Dundas. 

Doyen  e  d'  Autumn. 

Bon  Chretien  d"1  Amiens. 

Rousselet  Jamin. 

Red  Beurre. 

Chartreuse. 

Diller. 

Beurre  Rouge. 

Grot  Gilot. 

Doyenne  Robin. 

Doyenne  Gris. 

Monstre. 

Beurre  Robin. 

Doyenne  White. 

Tetonde  Venus. 

Doyen  Dillon. 

Viraalieu. 

Chaumoisine. 

Deacon  Dillon. 

St.  Michael 

Coulon  Saint  Marc. 
Belle  de  Thouars. 

Doyenne  Goubalt. 
Doyenne  Defais. 

Doyenne  Blanc. 
Doyenne. 

Catherine  Lambree. 

Doyenne  Downing. 

Yellow  Butter. 

Cure  d'CElenghem. 
Chaumontel. 

Doctor  Lentier. 
Duchesse  d'Orleans. 

Bergaloe. 
White  Beurre. 

Bezi  de  Chaumontel. 

Beurre  Saint  Nicho- 

Warwick Bergamot. 

Winter  Beurre. 

las. 

Deans. 

Beurre  d"  Hiver. 

Saint  Nicholas. 

Bonne  Ente. 

Oxford  Chaumontel. 
Charles  of  Austria. 

Duchesse  de  Berry  d'Ete. 
Duchesse  de  Brabant. 

Neige  blanche. 
Saint  Michal  blanc. 

Clara. 

Duchess  d'Angouleme. 

Snow  Pear. 

Claire. 

Des  Eparonnais. 

Reigner. 

Clinton. 

Pezenas. 

Beurre  blanc. 

Colmar  Nfell. 

Duchesse      d'Angouleme, 

Poire  de  Simon. 

Colmar  Epine. 

variegated* 

Poire  Monnieur. 

Comprette. 
Commodore. 

Duchess  d'Aremberg. 
Dumortier. 

Citron  de  September^ 
Kainserbirne. 

Crassane. 

Dupuy  Charles. 

Kaiser  d  Autumn. 

Bergamotte  Crassane. 

Doyenne  Rose. 

Bulter-birne. 

Beurre  Plat. 

Duchesse  de  Mars. 

Nouvelle  d'Quef. 

Cresane. 

Dunmore. 

Dechantsbirne. 

Crawford. 

Douillard. 

Valencia. 

280 


CATALOGUE  OF  PEAKS 


Emile  d'Hyest 

Francois.                              |      Goulu  Morceau. 

Eliza  d'Hyest. 

Frederick  le  Clerc. 

Roi  de  Wurtemberg. 

Emerald. 

Frederick  de  Wirtemberg. 

Beurre  de  Cambron. 

Edouard  Sageret. 

Beurre  de  Montgeron  — 

Got  Luck  de  Cambron. 

Enfant  Prodigue. 
Epine  d'Ete. 

erroneous!/. 
Florimond  Paren  . 

Kronprinz  Ferdinand 

Fninlante  Musque. 
Satin  Vert. 

Fleur  de  Neige. 
Snowflower. 

Heathcot 
Heathcot  de  Gore. 

Esperine. 

Figue  de  Naples. 

Gore's  Heathcot. 

Eyewood. 

Comtesse  de  Frtnol. 

Hatnou. 

Elizabeth  Manning's. 
Eastner  Castle. 

De  Vigne  Pelo^e. 
Beurre  Bronzee. 

Besi  Fondant. 
Haute  Montec. 

Echassery. 

Fig  Pear  of  Nap."  w. 

Heliote  Dundas. 

Echasserie. 

Figue  d'Alencon. 

Rousxelet  Jamain. 

Bisi  d  'Echassery. 

Verte    Longue    de    la 

Henri  Bivort 

Biei  d'Echassery. 

Mayenne. 

Henri  Caperon. 

Jagabirne. 

Figue  d'Hiver. 

Henri  IV. 

Episcopal. 
Fortune. 

Gabrourelis  Seedling. 

Henri  Quatre. 
Jaquin. 

La  Fortunee  de  Paris. 

Geant. 

Favori  Musque. 

La  Fortunee   du  Par- 

General  de  Lamoricf  ere. 

Beurre  Ananas. 

mentier. 

General  Dutillewe. 

Poire  Ananas. 

Bergamotte  Fortunee. 

Golden  Beurre  of  BJl  l  . 

Hericart  de  Theury. 

Emerald. 

Gluire  de  CatnbrouL 

Hessel. 

Gracioli  de  Jersey. 

Hazel. 

Flemish  Beauty. 

Jersey  Gracioli. 

Hovey. 

Fondante  des  Bois. 

Groom  Princess. 

Heukel. 

Belle  des  Bois. 

Gros  Lativeau. 

Henrietta. 

Belle  de  Flandres. 

Gansel's  Seckel. 

Henri  Bivort 

Bergamotte    de    Flan- 

GansePs Late  Bergan  *)V  \. 

Hericart. 

dres. 

Gil  o  Gil. 

Hericart  de  Thusy. 

Beurre  des  Bois. 

Garde  d'Ecosse. 

Rushmore's  Bon   Chrt* 

Beurre  Spence—  errone- 
ously. 

Dagobert. 
Glace  d'Hiver. 

tien. 
Hacon's  Incomparable. 

Davy,  or  Poire  Davy. 

Grand  Salomon. 

Incomparable  ffacont. 

Feodale. 

Louis  Philippe. 

Tougaret. 
Nouvelle      Gagne       a 

Gros  Lucas. 
Gamier. 

Jargonelle  English. 
Real  Jargonelle. 

Henze. 

Girardin. 

Beau  P/v.v. 

Imperatrice  de  France- 

Gloward. 

Sweet  Summer. 

Bosch  Pear. 

Got 

Beurre  de  Paris. 

Bosch,   or  Bosch  Nou- 

Graslin. 

Cuillette. 

velle. 

Grand  Soil  el. 

Cuisse  Madame. 

Bosc  Sire. 

Gris  de  Chin. 

Gros  Cuisse  Madame. 

Fondante  Abbret. 
Fondante  de  Brest. 

Gros  Cotelain. 
Gustave  de  Bourgogne. 

Epargjie. 
Si  tint  Samson. 

Cassante  de  Brest. 

General  Bosquet. 

Poire    de    Tables    dec 

Inconnue  de  Chesneau 

General  Canrobert 

Princes. 

Fondante  de  Laynillo. 

General  de  Lourmel. 

Saint  Lambert. 

Fondante  <1e  Malines. 

Gideon  Paridant. 

BeUe  ! 

Fondante  de  Noel. 

Graslin. 

tfftrgonelle,  French. 

Belle  de  Noel. 

Grosse  Marie. 

Bellixxhne  <!'  Me. 

BeUe  Apres  Noel. 
Fondante  de  Millat. 

Gios  Rousselet  a'Aout. 
Gondosheim. 

Bellinftime  Supreme. 
Bellisxime  Jargonelle. 

Fondante  du  Cornice  An- 

Green Citron  of  Bohemia. 

Red  Mitxi'ii'it!. 

gers. 

Citronbirne. 

Sum  in  er  Beauty 

Fondante  Van  Mons. 

(  i  .-»•»•  n  Pear  of  Yair. 

Red'  C/iet  A~. 

Fondante  Agreeable. 

Green  Yair. 

Sup/  • 

Fondante  des  Pres. 

Glout  Morcean. 

(  'hanniontel  iJ'Etc. 

Forelle. 

Gloux  or  Glou  Morceau 

Vermilion  d'Ete. 

Auos  Traites. 

Beurre,  d'Uardtnpont. 

S<ibine  d'Ste. 

(iriiin  de  Corail. 

Harden  jxuit  <!'  [fleer. 

h:,Kjll*h  Red  Cheek. 

Fortunee. 

Cul>niir  it'  Ilin  /'. 

mat. 

Forme     de      Bergamotte 
Crawse-nno. 
Foureroy  d'Hiver. 

Linden  ii'Auiomne. 
Beurre  d'Aremberg  in 
France. 

Jalousie  de  Fon*enay  V«i» 
dee. 
i  Jean  de  Witte. 

CATALOGUE   OF   PEARB. 


281 


Julienne. 

Lieutenant  Poitevin. 

Napoleon. 

Josephine  de  Maiines. 
Jules  Bivort. 

Liberale. 
La  Canas. 

Beurit  Napoleon. 
Bon  Chretien  Napoleon. 

Jalousie  Tardive. 

Bon-Parent. 

Captive  of  St.  Helena. 

Jacqueinine. 

Leon  Leclerc. 

Charles  X. 

Jaininette. 

Leon  Leclerc  Epineux. 

Charles  d?  Austria  jncvr. 

Austrasie. 

Gloire  de  lEmpereur. 

Beurre  d'Austrassie. 

Mansuette. 

Liard,  incor. 

Beurre  Saint  Helier. 

Marie  Louise. 

Meabille. 

Bergamotte  Cheminette. 

Princess  Parme. 

Medaille. 

Pirolle  Maroi. 

Marie  Chretienne. 

Wurtemberg,  incor. 

Sabine, 

Forme  Marie  Louise. 

Sucree  Doree. 

Wilhelmine. 

BraddicVs  Field  Stan- 

Roi de  Rome. 

Josephine. 

dard. 

Bonaparte. 

Colmar  Jaminette. 

Marechal  Dillon. 

Nectarine. 

Jansenns. 

Marechal  Pelissier. 

Nielle. 

Jolivet. 

Marianne  de  Nancy. 

Beurre  Niel. 

John  Moutich. 

Mignonne  d'Hiver. 

Poire  Neil. 

Jules  Bivort 

Millot  de  Nancy. 

Colmar  Bosc. 

Jutte. 

Marie  Louise—  the  new. 

Fondante  du  Bois,  in- 

Jurardiel. 

Martin  Sec. 

correctly. 

Jalvie. 

Rousselet  d'Hiver. 

Neufmaisons. 

Inconnu  Van  Mons. 

Madame  Durien. 

Belle  Alliance. 

Imperiale,  Oak-Leaved. 

Madame  Elisa. 
Madeleine  d'  Angers. 

Neuve  Maison. 
Serruvier  d'Automne. 

King  Edwards. 

Marechal  de  Cour 

Nouveau  Poiteau. 

Knight's  Monarch. 

Conseilleur  de  la  Cour. 

Retour  de  Rome. 

Knight's  Seedling. 

Due  d1  Orleans. 

Tombe  de  V  Amateur. 

Knight's  Edwards. 

Marquise. 

Nouveau  Simon  Bouvier. 

Medailled'Or. 

Ne  Plus  Meuris. 

La  Caslebirne. 

Melon. 

Niles. 

La  Herard. 

Menagerie. 

La  Juive. 

Messir,  Jean. 

Omer  Pasha. 

Laure  de  GlymM. 

Mr.  John. 

Orpheline  Colmar. 

Leopold  the  First. 
Leurs. 

Messir  Jean  Gris. 
Messir  Jean  Golden. 

Orange  d'Hiver. 
Winter  Orange. 

Long  Verte  of  Coxe. 

John. 

Mouille  Bouche,  erron. 

Monsieur  John. 

Passe  Colmar. 

Long  Green. 

Messir  Jean  Blanc. 

Passe  Colmar  Epineux. 

Long  Green. 

Miel  des  Cannes. 

Passe  Colmar  Gris,  or 

Leon  le  Clerc. 

Monseigneur  Affre. 

Dore. 

Leon  le  Clerc  Leval. 

Monstrous  Wood. 

Passe  Colmar  Nouveau. 

Blanc-Per-Ne. 

Nain  Vert. 

Pucelle  Condesienne. 

Little  Muscat. 

Muscat  TAllemand. 

Golmnr  Gris. 

Little  Musk. 

Muscat  Kobert. 

Ananas  d  Hiver. 

Petit  Musk. 

Musquee  d'Espeme. 

Beurre  Colmar  Gri8. 

Primitive. 

Michaux. 

Precel. 

Muscat  Petit. 

Compte  de  Michaux. 

Fondante  de  Panisel. 

Sept-en-  Gueule. 

Madeline. 

Fondante  deMons. 

Louise  Bonne. 

Magdalen. 

Beurre  d'Argenson. 

Louise  Bonne  Real. 

Citron  des  Carmes. 

Regintin. 

St.  Germain  Blanc. 
Louise  de  Carcelles. 

Green  Chisel,  incor. 
Early  Chaumontel,  in- 

Colmar Hardenpont. 
Colmar  Souveraine 

Louise  de  Prusse. 

correctly. 

Colmar  Preule. 

Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey. 
Louise  Bonne  d'Avran- 

Madeline,  variegated. 
March  Bergamot. 

Colmar  Doree. 
Gambier. 

ches. 

Moccas.      ' 

Celliste. 

Bonne  de  Longueval. 

Muscat  Eobert. 

Marotte  Lucre  Jaune. 

Beurre,  or  Bonne  Louise 

Poire  a  la  Heine. 

Pusent  de  Ma  lines. 

d'Avandore. 

D'Ambre. 

D'  Ananas. 

William  the  Fourth. 
Lucien  Leclerc. 

St.  Jean  Musquee  Gros. 
Musk  RoUne. 

Passe  Colmar  of  Belgium. 
Passe  Col  mar  of  France. 

Louis  Dupont 

Early  Queen. 

Passe  Colmar  Mueque. 

Limon. 

Queen's  Pear 

Pater  Nosttfr. 

Beurre  Hagersten. 

Marie  Parent. 

Paquency. 

Bergamotte  Louise. 

Peach  Peat. 

282 


CATALOGUE   OF   PEAKS. 


Poire  Peche. 

Ferdinand  de  Meester. 

Poire  Sanspeau. 

Pengethly. 
Passans  du  Portugal. 

Surpasse  Meurice. 
Rousseline. 

fleur  de  Guignes. 
Serrurier. 

Summer  Portugal. 

Rousselon. 

Surrier  d'A  utomne. 

Miller's  Early. 

Royale  d'Ete. 

Fondunte  de  MiUot. 

Paradise  d'Automne. 

Robine. 

Simon  Bouvier. 

Calebasne  Boxc. 

Royal  d'Hiver. 

Sdegnata. 

Maria  Nouvelle. 

Rousselet  Hatif. 

Simon. 

Princess  Marianne. 

Early  Catherine. 

Souvenir  de  Simon  Bouvior 

Phillippe  Goes. 
Pio  IX. 

Kutlern. 
Cyprus  Pear. 

Sorlus. 
Sucree  de  Zurich. 

Poire  d'Albret. 

Early  Romnelet. 

Sucree  Vert. 

Poire  d'Abondance. 

Perdrean. 

Supreme  d'Auray. 

Poire  d*-s  Chasseurs. 
Poire  de  Lepine. 

Poire  de  Chypri. 
Rousselet  de  Rhelms. 

Supreme  Qulnipor. 
Suzette  de  Baray. 

De  Lepine. 

Rousselet. 

Soldat  Laboreur. 

Delepine. 

Petit  Rousselet. 

Augmte  Van,  Krans. 

Paul  Ainbre. 

Spice  Pear. 

Souveraine  de  Printemps. 

Prevost. 

Musk  Pear. 

Poire  de  Printemps. 

Poire  Prevost. 

Retour  de  Rome. 

Souveraine  d'Ete. 

Prince  Albert. 

Rousselet  d'E«peren. 

Styrian. 

Paillean. 

Rousselet  Double. 

Supreme  de  Quineper. 

Pitt's  ProliBc. 
Pitt's  Surpasse  Marie. 
Surpasse  Marie  Louise, 

Rousselet  Enfant  Prodigue 
Enfant  Prodigue. 
Rosatrirne. 

Surpasse  Meuris. 
Surpasse  Crassane. 
Saint  Pere. 

incorrect. 

Riddles. 

De  Pape. 

Princess  Marie. 

Beurre  Andusson. 

Socquet. 

Princess  Charlotte. 

Poire  Ritelle. 

Sultan. 

Princess  of  Orange. 

Rousselet  Vandervecken. 

Sucree  de  Corinne. 

Princess  Conquette. 

Rousselet  Stuttgart 

Sucree  de  Hoyerswerder. 

Pain  et  Vin. 

Rateau  Gris. 

Summer  St  Germain. 

Chaumontel  Anglaise. 

Beurre  de  Louvain. 

Shorts  St.  Germain. 

Ghent  Vert. 

St.  Germain  d'Ete. 

Chene  Vin. 

Sabine  d'Hiver. 

St.  Germain  of  Martin. 

Parfum  d'Aout 

Saint  Andre. 

Summer  Franc  lU-al. 

Parfum  d'Hlver. 

Saint  Augustin. 

Franc  Real  d'Ete. 

Paul  Thiens. 

Saint  Georges. 

Fondante. 

Pommo. 

Saint  Germain. 

Gros  Micet  d'Ete. 

Prodil. 

St.  Germain  Gris. 

Green  Chisel. 

Professor  Dnbreull. 

Jnconnut  Lafare. 

Green  Sugar. 

President  Parigot. 

St.  German  Jaume. 

Super  Fondante. 

Prince  Imperial. 

Saint  Germain  Van  Mons. 

Swan's  KITLT. 

Princess  Helene  d'Orleans. 

Saint  Germain,  variegated. 
Saint  Germain  Gris. 

Moor-fowl  Egg,  incorrect 
Summer  Rose. 

Queen  of  the  Low  Coun- 

Saint Ghislein. 

E  pine  Rose. 

tries. 

Quinnipiac. 

Caillot  Rosat  d'Ete. 

Queen  of  Netherlands. 

Duck,  Monarch. 

Thorny  Rose. 

Reine  des  Pays  Baa. 

Saint  Germain  Brande's. 

Ognon. 

Quilette. 

Saint  Andre. 

Epine  d"Ete. 

Saint  Menin. 

Poire  de  Rose. 

Reine  dcs  Beiges. 

Saint  Isaure. 

Epine     d'Ete      Coleur 

Reine  '!<•-  Poires. 

Snint  Jean  Baptiste. 

Rose. 

Reine  d'Hiver. 

Saint  Joseph. 

Summer  Bon  Chretien. 

Rovillere. 

Saint  Louis. 

Bon  Chretien  d'Ete. 

Rushmore. 

Saint  Michel  Archange. 

Gratioli. 

Rondeiet 

Plombgattet. 

Gratioli  d'Ete. 

Rostiezer. 

Saint  Vincent  de  Paul. 

Gratioli  di  Romn. 

Rouge  <les  Vlerges. 

Saint  Dorethee. 

Summer  Good  Christian 

Rousselet  de  Conr. 

Royalf. 

Mttxk  Summer  Bon 

Rou8j>elet  de  Bochefort 

Nouvelle. 

Chretien. 

Rousselet  d'Hlver. 

Saint  Denij. 

Sommer        Apothiker- 

Rousselot  )e  Gros. 

Sanguinole. 

hinif. 

Roi  d'Ete. 

Sanguine  de  f  ranee. 

Sommer  Gute  Christen- 

Rousselet  variegated. 
Rousselet  Perdreau. 

Sanguine  d'ltallc. 
Sans  Peau. 

birne. 
Die  Sommer  Christen, 

Kousseiet  de  Meester.        1 

SkAnless. 

birne. 

CATALOGUE  OF  PEAES. 


283 


Large  Sugar. 

Count  Coloma. 

Walker. 

Sylvange. 

St.  Mearc. 

185  of  Van  Mons. 

Beroamotte  Sylvange. 

Beurre  Drap'ies. 

Wendell. 

Green  Sylvange. 

Louise  d'  Orleans. 

Willemoz. 

Urbaniste  Seedling. 

Wredon. 

Tillineton. 

William  Prince. 

Tarquin  de  Pyrenees. 

Van  Mons.  Leon  le  Clerc. 

Windsor. 

Theodore  Van  MOBS. 

Valette. 

Summer  Bell. 

Thompson's. 

Van  Assche. 

Konge. 

Thupilinck. 

Vauqti»-lin. 

Suisse,  Madame. 

Triomphe  de  Jodoigne. 
Taluiont. 

St.  Germain  Vauquelin. 
Verte  Longue  d'  Angers. 

Winter  Nelis. 
Bo  Mie  de  Malines. 

Tonnelet. 

Verte  Longue  Suisse. 

c'olmar  Nelis. 

Trioinphe  de  Hasselt. 

Verte  Longue  Panache. 

Nelis  d'  Hicer. 

Trioinphe  de  Souvain. 

Culotte  de  Suisse. 

Beurre  de  Malines. 

Trioinphe    de   la  Pomo- 

Vezouziere. 

La  Bonne  Mulinoise. 

logie. 

Vicompte  de  Spielberg. 

JUilanaise  Ouvelier. 

Ta  vernier  de  Boulogne. 
Tresor  d'Amour. 

Vigneuse  d'Esperen. 
Vingt  Mars. 

Etoumeau. 
Waterloo. 

Tonneau. 

Vallie  Franche. 

Due  de  Brabant. 

De   Vallee. 

Detsiree  Van  Mons. 

Uveedales  St.  Germain. 

De  Remzheim. 

Fond  ante  Chfimeuse. 

Angora. 

Bonne  de  lienizheim. 

JFondtinte     des    Cfiar- 

Pound  Pear. 

Virgal..u.«e. 

ntusf. 

Beauty  of  Turvensen. 

Poire  Glace. 

Beurre  Charneuse. 

Belle  Angevine. 

Ckumbrtlte. 

Milde  Waterloo. 

Belle  de  Jersey. 

Bdjnleuf. 

Jnmin. 

Bollrar. 

Vicar  of  Winkfield. 

Belle  Excellent*. 

Duchesse  de  Berry. 

Cure 

Duchesse     de       Berry 

Mon.  le  Cure. 

Yat. 

d/Jiver. 

CHon. 

Yutte. 

Grosse  de  Brtucelles. 

Cornice  du  Toulon. 

Royal  d'Angleterre. 
Urbaniste. 
Beurre  Picquery. 

Belle  Adrienne, 
Belle  de  Berry. 
Belle  Heleres. 

Zephyrin  Grpgoire. 
Zephyrin  Louis  Gregoire. 

INDEX. 


PAGE 

ANALYSIS  of  Pear- wood,  Fruit,  &c. .    69 

ADDITIONAL  LIST 226 

Andrews 226 

Ananas  d'Ete 227 

Budding 79 

Bartlett 191 

Belle  Epine  Dumas 193 

Belle  Lucrative 194 

Bloodgood 196 

Buffam 197 

Beurre  d'Anjou 208 

Beurre  Superfin 209 

Beurre  Diel 210 

Bourre  Gris  d'Hiver  Nouveau 228 

Beurre  St.  Nicholas 229 

Beurre  d'Aremberg 230 

Beurre  d'Amalis 231 

Beurre  Bosc 232 

Beurre  Langelier 233 

Beurre  Capiamont 234 

Beurre  Clairgeau 234 

Beurre  Gifford 235 

Beurre  Brown 238 

Beurre  Hardy 23S 

BAHRY  on  Eipening  Winter  Pears...  268 

Blight  Insect 176 

Blight,  Winter,  or  Frozen-Sap 173 

Cause  of. 173 

Eemedy  and  Means  of  Prevent 

ing... 174 

Signs  of  Approach 175 

Blight,  Leaf 176 

Cause  of 177 

Immunity  of  Improved  Varie- 
ties from 177 

Compost 31 

Cultivation  of  the  Pear  Orchard 112 

Causes  of  Failure  of  Nursery  Trees.    89 
Causes  of  Failure  of  Pear  on  Quince  123 

Caterpillar  Cankerworm,  &c 1 86 

Means  of  Destroying 187 

Conditions  which  affect  the  Quality 

ofPears 188 

Columbia 198 

(.Lurch...  ..  236 


Coloring  and  Eipening  of  Summer 

and  Autumn  Pears 264 

Mr.  GORDON'S  Method  of. 264 

CATALOGUE  OF  NATIVE  VARIETIES 

OF  EXCELLENCE 271 

CATALOGUE,  GENERAL,  OF  NATIVE 

VARIETIES 272 

CATALOGUE  OF  FOREIGN  VARIETIES.  276 

DEDICATION iii 

Draining  18 

Digging  Holes 33 

Digging  Trees 84 

Double  Working 144 

Varieties  for 146 

Doyenne  Bossouch 200 

Dearborn's  Seedling 237 

Delices  d'Hardenpont 238 

Dix 239 

Doyenne  Sieulle 240 

Duchcsse  d'Angouleme 212 

Doyenne  d'Alencon 241 

Easter  Beurre 214 

Espalier  Trees 164 

Forms  of  Training 162 

Fruit-Rooms     267 

Mr.  SCHOOLEY'S 268 

Engraving  of  do 269 

Frederick  of  Wirtemberg 242 

Fulton 243 

Flemish  Beauty 201 

Fruit  Spurs  and  Treatment 161 

Grafting  by  Approach  to  improve 

Shape.......... ....  156 

Graft,  Influence  of,  on  Longevity. . .     72 

Grafting,  Methods  of 74 

Cleft 76 

Whip 71 

Crown 78 

Grafting  Large  Trees 121 

lout  Morceau 216 

olden  Beurre 244 

ray  Doyenne 245 

GORDON,  Mr.,  Method  of  Eipening 

Pear 264 

Gathering  Pears 262 


(    285     ) 


286 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Hybridizing 55 

Howel 246 

Heeling  in 103 

Introduction 18 

Invigorating  Old  Trees. 120 

Insect  Blight 176 

Improved  Varieties,  immunity  from 

Leaf-blight 177 

Leaf-blight  of  Seedlings 53 

Lawrence 202 

Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey 218 

Manure  for  Pear  Trees 27 


Quince  Stocks,  oflice  of 1 22 

Quince,  Causes  of  Failure  of  Pear  on  123 

Quince-stock,  Advantages  of 124 

BERCKMANS'  L.  E.,"Articlc  on       1*1 
WILDER,  M.  P.,  do.       .        130 

Do.  -    do.       .        132 

BUIST.  II.  do.       .         1.36 

HOVEY,  C.  do.       .        137 

Eules  for  growing  Pear  on   . 
Eooting  of  the  Pear  above   .        139 

How  to  produce  it 143 

Quenouillc  Training 164 

Qualities  now  required  for  Market 
Pears...  ..  189 


Manuring 26 

Manures  for  Nursery  Stocks 67 

Special  do.  for  Pear  Trees 117    Eemoving  the  Wood  ef  Old  Dwarfs.  153 

Mulching 114    Eoot-pruning,  &c.,  Effect  on  Shape 

Cropping  for  do 116  !     and  Fruiting 168 

MOORE,  A.  O.,  Article  on  Scale  In-  EIVERS',  Mr.,  Eemarks  on  do...  170 

sect 179  |  Eostiezer 255 

MOORE  A.  O.,  Article  on  Pear  Slug. .  182    Eipening  Winter  Pears  ...  . .  265 

Difficulty  of 266 

Laws  governing,  do 265 

Eooting  of  the  Pear 96 

Eeplanting  the  Pear  to  form  Fibrous 
Eoots 102 


Madeleine  .........................  247 

Marie  Louise  ......................  248 

MARKETING  PEARS  ................  263 

Napoleon  .........  .,  ...............  249 

Nouveau  Poiteau  ..................  250 

Onondaga  .........................  251 


Oswego  Bcurre  ....................  252 


Old  Trees,  Invigorating 120 

PART  1 17 

PART  II 45 

PART  III  86 

PART  IV 122 

PART  V 147 

PART  VI 173    

PART  VII 178  [  Soldat  Laboureur  .. 

PART  VIII 188 

PART  IX 261 

PREF  ACE v 

Preparation  of  the  Soil 17 

Plowing  and  Cropping  the  Ground.  20 

Propagation  by  Layers  and  Cuttings  59 


Scoly tus  pyri 178 

Scale  Insect...  ..  178 


Planting  Seed 48 

Planting  Stocko 65 

Cost  of 67 

Preparation  of  Stocks  for  Planting. .     70 
Planting  Trees 104 

Proper  Age  for 90 

Depth  of 110 

Plan  of  Arranging  Pear  Orchard . .     106 
Pruning  and    Eoot-pruning  before 

Planting 97 

Pyramidal  Shape,  Advantage  of 147 

Pruning  to  form  Pyramids 150 

Pruning  to  a  Jiu.l lf>7 

Pruning,  Eules  for 166 

Season 168 

Pruning  Eoots,  Effect  of,  on  Shape, 
&c 168 

.Mr.  EIVERS  on  do 168 

Parsonage 258 

Paradise  d'Automne 254 

Passe  Cohnar 254 

Pear  Shi? 182 

Quince  Stocks 60 

Propagation  of 61 


Washes  to  destroy  179 

A.  O.  MOOKB'B  Article  on ....       179 

Slug,  Pear 182 

A.  O.  MOORE'S  Article  on 133 

Season  for  Eemoving  and  Planting 

Trees 7 94 

Sheldon 256 

257 

:  St  Michael  Archange 258 

Seckel 204 

Soils  affecting  the  Quality  of  Pears..  261 

Summer  Pinching 159 

Season  for  Pruning 168 

Soils  for  the  Pear 88 


Seedlings 45 

Leaf-blight  of 57 

New  Varieties  of 51 

Cultivation  of 50 

VAN  MONB'  Theory  of  Improve- 
ment   52 

Indications  of  good  Varieties... .  53 

Seed-planting 48 

Thinning  Fruit 261 

TiTins  relating  to  Quality 18S 

Trenching 2t 

Cost  of 28 

Transporting 43 

Urbaniste 228 

VAN   MONB'  Theory  of  Improving 

Seedlinss 53 

Vicar  of  Winkfleld 220 

Withered  Trees.  Treatment  of. 103 

Winter  Pears,  Ripening  of 265 

Dilllrulty  of 266 

Laws  Governing  do 265 

Winter  Nelis 205 

White  Doyenne 224 


All  the  Books  on  this  Catalogue  sent  by  mail,  to  &ny  par*  of  the  Onion,  fria 
of  postage,  upon  receipt  of  Price. 


CATALOGUE    OF    BOOKS 

ON 

AGRICULTURE  AND  HORTICULTURE, 

PUBLISHED  BY 

A. .     O .     MOORE, 

(LATE  C.  M.  SAXTON  &  COMPANY,) 
No.  140  FULTON  STREET,  NEW  YORK, 

SUITABLE  FOB 

SCHOOL,  TOWN,  AGRICULTUEAL,  AND  PRIVATE  LIBRARIES. 


THE  AMERICAN  FARMER'S  ENCYCLOPEDIA,  $4  00 

EMBRACING  ALT.  THE  RECENT  DISCOVERIES  IN  AGRIULTURAL  CHEM- 

Istry,  an.l  the  use  of  Mineral,  Vegetable  and  Animal  Manures,  with  Descriptions  and 
Figures  of  American  Insects  injurious  to  Vegetation.    Being  a  Complete  Guide  for  the 


DOWNING'S  (A.  J.)  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING,  -  3  50 

A  TREATISE  ON  THE  THEORY  AND  PRACTIOF   •    1  ^NDSCAPE  GAR- 

dening.  Adapted  to  North  America,  with  a  view  to  the  impu,vement  of  Country 
Residences ;  comprising  Historical  Notices  and  General  Principles  of  the  Art,  direc- 
tions for  Laying  out  Grounds  and  Arranging  Plantations,  the  Description  and  Cultiva- 
tion of  Hardy  Trees,  Decorative  Accompaniments  to  the  House  and  Grounds,  the 
Formation  of  Pieces  of  Artificial  Waters,  Flower  Gardens,  &c.,  with  Eemarks  on 
Rural  Architecture.  Elegantly  Illustrated,  with  a  Portrait  of  the  Author.  By  A.  J. 
DOWNING. 

DOWNING'S  (A.  J.)  RURAL  ESSAYS,          ....  3  00 

ON  HORTICULTURE,  LANDSCAPE  GARDENING,  RURAL  ARCHITECTURE, 

Trees,  Agriculture,  Fruit,  with  bis  Letters  fisom  England.  Edited,  with  a  Memoir  of 
the  Author,  by  GEORGE  WM.  CURTIS,  and  a  letter  to  his  friends,  by  FKEDEEIKA  BRK- 
MER,  and  an  elegant  steel  Portrait  of  the  Author. 

DADD'S  ANATOMY  AND  PHYSIOLOGY  OF  THE  HORSE,  Plain.     2  00 

Do.  Do.  Do.  Do.      Colored  Plates,    4  00 

WITH  ANATOMICAL  AND  QUESTIONAL  ILLUSTRATIONS  ;  Containing, 

also,  a  Series  of  Examinations  on  Equine  Anatomy  and  Philosophy,  with  Instructions 
In  reference  to  Dissection,  and  the  mode  of  making  Anatomical  Preparations ;  to  which 
is  added  a  Glossary  of  Veterinary  Technicalities,  Toxieological  Chart,  and  Dictionary 
of  Veterinary  Science. 

DADD'S  MODERN  HORSE  DOCTOR.  ....  1  00 

CONTAINING   PRACTICAL   OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  CAUSES,  NATURE 

and  Treatment  of  Disease  and  Lameness  of  Horses,  embracing  the  most  recent  and  ap- 
proved methods,  according  to  an  enlightened  system  of  veterinary  therapeutics,  for 
the  preservation  and  restoration  i  health.  With  Illustrations. 


Books  Published  by  A.  0.  MOORE. 

DADD'S  (GEO.  H.)  AMERICAN  CATTLE  DOCTOB,         -  $1  00 

CONTAINING  THE   NECESSARY  INFORMATION  FOR  PRESERVING  THE 

Health  and  Curing  the  Diseases  of  Oxen,  Cows,  Sheep,  and  Bwine,  with  a  great  variety 
of  Original  Recipes  and  Valuable  Information  in  reference  to  Farm  and  Dairy  manage- 
ment, whereby  every  man  can  be  his  own  Cattle  Doctor.  The  principles  taught  in 
thia  work  are,  that  all  Medication  shall  be  subservient  to  Nature — that  all  Medicines 
must  be  sanative  in  their  operation,  and  administered  with  a  view  of  aiding  the  vital 
powers,  instead  of  depressing,  as  heretofore,  with  the  lancet  or  by  pcisoa.  By  G  IL 
DADD,  M.  D.,  Veterinary  Practitioner. 

THE  DOG  AND  GUN, 50 

A  FEW  LOOSE  CHAPTERS  ON  SHOOTING,  among  which  will  be  found 

some  Anecdotes  and  Incidents ;  also,  Instructions  for  Dog  Breaking,  and  Interesting  let- 
ters from  Sportsmen.  By  A  BAD  SHOT. 

MORGAN  HORSES, 1  00 

A  PREMIUM  ESSAY  ON  THE  ORIGIN,  HISTORY,  AND  CHARACTER: 

of  this  remarkable  American  Breed  of  Horses ;  tracing  the  Pedigree  from  the  original 
Justin  Morgan,  through  the  most  noted  of  his  progeny,  down  to  the  present  time. 
With  numerous  portraits.  To  which  are  added  hints  for  Breeding,  Breaking,  and 
General  Use  and  Management  of  Horses,  with  practical  Directions  for  training  them  fur 
exhibition  at  Agricultural  Fairs.  By  D.  C.  LINSLKY. 

SORGHO  AND  IMPHEE,  THE  CHINESE  AND  AFRICAN  SUGAR 

CANES 1  00 

A  COMPLETE  TREATISE  UPON  THEIR  ORIGIN  AND  VARIETIES,  CULTURE 

t»nd  Uses,  their  value  as  a  Foraee  Crop,  and  directions  for  making  Sugar,  Molasses, 
Alcohol,  Sparkling  and  Still  Wlnee,  Beer,  Cider,  Vinegar,  Paper.  Starch,  and  Dye 
Stuffs.  Fully  Illustrated  with  Drawings  of  Approved  Machinery  ;  With  an  Appendix 
by  LEONARD  WRAT,  of  Caffrarla,  and  a  description  of  his  patented  process  of  crystalliz- 
ing the  juice  of  the  Imphee  ;  with  the  latest  American  experiments,  including  th< 
1867,  in  the  South.  By  HENRY  S.  OLCOTT.  To  which  are  added  translations  of  valu- 
able French  Pamphlets,  received  from  the  Hon.  JOHN  Y.  MASON,  American  Minister 
at  Paris. 

THE  STABLE  BOOK, 1  00 

A  TREATISE  ON  THE  MANAGEMENT  OF  HORSES,  IN  RELATION  TO 

Stabling,  Groom^  ~  7>  -Ming,  Watering  and  Working,  Construction  of  Stables,  Ven'.i'a 
tlon,  Appendage*  ^  otables,  Management  of  the  Feet,  and  of  Diseased  and  Defective 
Horses.  By  JOHN  STEWART,  Veterinary  Surgeon.  With  Notes  and  Additions,  adapt- 
ing it  to  American  Food  and  Climate.  By  A.  B.  ALLEN,  Editor  of  the  American 
Agriculturist. 

THE  HORSE'S  FOOT,  AND  HOW  TO  KEEP  IT  SOUND,          -  50 

WITH  CUTS,  ILLUSTRATING  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  FOOT,  and  contain- 
ing valuable  Hints  on  Shoeing  and  Stable  Management,  In  Health  and  in  Disease.    By 

"HE  FRUIT  GARDEN 1  25 

A  TREATISE,  INTENDED  TO  EXPLAIN  AND  ILLUSTRATE  THE  PIIVSI- 

ology  of  Fruit  Trees,  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  all  Operations  connected  with  th« 
Propa-riition,  Transplanting,  Pruning  and  Training  of  Orchard  and  Garden  Trees,  nn 
Standards,  i)warfs.  Pyramids,  Espalier,  &c.  The  Laying  out  and  Arranging 
kinds  of  Orchards  and  Gardens,  the  selection  of  suitable  varieties  for  different  p,irpo<o? 
and  localities,  Gathering  and  Preserving  Fruits,  Treatment  of  Diseases.  Oestnicti.-n  »« 
Insects,  Description  and  Uses  of  Implements,  Ac.  Illustrated  with  upwards  of  1M 
Figures,  representing  Different  Parts  of  Trees,  all  Practical  Operations  fonrs  ofTrees, 
iVsL'ns.  for  Plantations,  Implements,  &c.  By  P.BARRT,  of  tLe  Mount  Hope  Nurseries, 
Rochester,  N.  Y. 

FIELD'S  PEAR  CULTURE,  75 

THE    PEAR    GARDEN  ;    or,  a    Treatise  on  the  Propagation  rml 
Cultivation  of  the  Pear  Tree,  with  Instructions  for  it*  Management  from' the 
to  the  Bearing  Tree.    By  THOMAB  \V.  FIELD. 


Books  Published  by  A.  0.  MOORE. 


BRIDGEIffAN'S  (THOS.)  YOUNG  GARDENER'S  ASSISTANT,  $1  50 

IN  THREE  PARTS,  Containing  Catalogues  of  Garden  and  Flower 

Seod,  wlUj  Practical  Directions  under  each  head  for  the  Cultivation  of  Culinary  Vege- 
table «nd  Viewers.    Also  directions  for  Cultivating  Fruit  Trees,  the  Grape  Vine,  &c., 
to  which,  is  added,  a  Calendar  to  each  part,  showing  the  work  necessary  to  be  done  in 
the  vuious  departments  each  mouth  of  the  year.    One  volume  octavo. 
BRIDGEMAN'S  KITCHEN  GARDENER'S  INSTRUCTOR,       i  Cloth,         50 

Cloth,        60 

BEIDG'EMAN'S  FLORIST'S  GUIDE,    ....      *  Cloth,        50 
"  -         Cloth,        60 

BRIDGEMAN'S  FRUIT  CULTIVATOR'S  MANUAL,       -      *  Cloth,        50 

Cloth,        60 

COLE'S  AMERICAN  FRUIT  BOOK, 50 

CONTAINING  DIRECTIONS  FOR  BAISING,  PROPAGATING  AND  MANAG- 
Ing  Fruit  Traes,  Shrubs  and  Plants ;  with  a  description  of  the  Best  Varieties  of  FrzJt. 
including  New  and  Valuable  Kinds. 

COLE'S  AMERICAN  VETERINARIAN,         ....  50 

CONTAINING  DISEASES  OF  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS,  THEIR  CAUSES, 
Symptoms  and  Remedies ;  with  Kules  for  Restoring  and  Preserving  Health  by  good 
management ;  also  for  Training  and  Breeding. 

SCHENCK'S  GARDENER'S  TEXT  BOOK,       ....  50 

CONTAINING  DIRECTIONS  FOR  THE  FORMATION  AND  MANAGEMENT 

of  the  Kitchen  Garden,  the  Culture  and  Use  of  Vegetables,  Fruits  and  Medicinal  Herbs. 

AMERICAN  ARCHITECT,  -         -  6  00 

THE  AMERICAN  ARCHITECT,  Comprising  original  Designs  of  Cheap 

Country  and  Village  Residences,  with  Details,  Specifications,  Plans  and  Directions, 
and  an  Estimate  of  the  Cost  of  Each  Design.  By  JOHN  W.  RITCH,  Architect.  First 
and  Second  Series,  4to,  bound  in  1  -*oL 

BUIST'S  (ROBERT)  AMERICAN  FLOWER  GARDEN  DIRECTORY,     1  25 
CONTAINING  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS  FOR  THE  CULTURE  OF  PLANTS, 

in  the  Flower-Garden,  Hot-House,  Green-House,  Rooms  or  Parlor  Windows,  for  every 
Month  in  the  Year ;  with  a  Description  of  the  Plants  most  desirable  in  each,  the  nature 
of  the  Soil  and  Situation  best  adapted  to  their  Growth,  the  Proper  Season  for  Trans- 
planting, &c. ;  with  Instructions  for  Erecting  a  Hot-House,  Green-House,  and  Laying 
out  a  Flower  Garden :  the  whole  adapted  to  either  Large  or  Small  Gardens,  with  In- 
structions for  Preparing  the  Soil,  Propagating,  Planting,  Pruning,  Training  and  Fruit- 
ing the  Grape  Vine. 
THE  AMERICAN  BIRD  FANCIER,  ..... 

CONSIDERED  WITH  REFERENCE  TO  THE  BREEDING,  BEARING,  FEED- 
ing,  Management  and  Peculiarities  of  Cage  and  House  Birds.    Illustrated  with  Engrav- 
ings.   By  D.  JAY  BROWNE. 
REEMELIN'S  (CHAS.)  VINE  DRESSER'S  MANUAL,     .         -  50 

AN   ILLUSTRATED    TREATISE  ON  VINEYARDS  AND  WINE-MAKING, 

containing  Full  Instructions  as  to  Location  and  Soil,  Preparation  of  Ground,  Selection 
and  Propagation  of  Vines,  the  Treatment  of  Young  Vineyards,  Trimming  and  Training 
the  Vines,  Manures,  and  tha  Making  of  Wine. 

DANA'S  MUCK  MANUAL,  FOR  THE  USE  OF  FARMERS,     -  1  00 

A   TREATISE  ON  THE  PHYSICAL  AND   CHEMICAL  PROPERTIES  OP 

Boils  and  Chemistry  of  Manures:  including,  also,  the  subject  of  Composte,  Artificial 
Manures  and  Irrigation.  A  new  edition,  with  a  Chapter  on  Bones  and  Superphos- 
phates. 

CHEMICAL  FIELD  LECTURES  FOR  AGRICULTURISTS,         -  1  00 

By  Dr.  JULIUS  ADOLPHUS  STOCKHARDT,  Professor  in  the  Royal 
Academy  of  Agriculture  at  Tharant  Translated  from  the  German.  Edited,  with 
notes,  bv  JAM  s  E.  TBCHEMACBJO. 


Books  Published  by  A.  0.  MOORP 


BUIST'S1  (BBOF.RT)  FAMILY  KITCHEN  GARDENER,     *  $0  78 

CONTAINING  PLAIN  AND  ACCURATE  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  AL*,  THE  DIF- 
ferent  Species  and  Varieties  of  Culinary  Vegetables,  \vtth  their  Botanical,  English, 
French  and  German  names,  alphabetically  arranged,  with  the  Best  Ho«le  of  Cultivating 
them  tn  the  Garden  or  under  Glass ;  also  Descriptions  and  Character  of  the  most  Select 
Fruits,  their  Management,  Propagation,  Ac.  By  lloufcKT  BUIST,  author  of  the  "Am- 
erican Flower  Garden  Directory,"  «fcc. 

DOMESTIC  AND  ORNAMENTAL  POULTRY.  Plain  Plates,        -  1  00 

Do.  Do.  Do.        Colored  Plates,    -  2  OvJ 

A  TREATISE  ox  THE  HISTORY  AND  MANGEJIENT  OF  ORNAMENTAL 

and  Domestic  Poultry.    By  Rev.  EDMUND  SAUL  Dixow,  A.M.,  with  large  additions  b« 

J.  J.  KEEK,  M.D.  Illustrated  with  sixty-five  Original  Portraits,  engraved  exprefltly  fox 

this  work.    Fourth  edition  revised. 

HOW  TO  BUILD  AND  VENTILATE  HOT-HOUSES,        -  1  W 

A   PRACTICAL  TREATISE   ON   THE   CONSTRUCTION,  HEATING  AND 

Yentilation  of  Hot-Houses,  including  Conservatories,  Green-Howes,  Graperies  and 
other  kinds  of  Horticultural  Structures,  with  Practical  Directions  for  their  Manage 
mcnt,  in  regard  to  Light,  Heat  and  Air.  Illustrated  with  numerous  engravings.  By 
P.  B.  LEUCIIABS,  Garden  Architect 

CHORLTON'S  GRAPE-GROWER'S  GUIDE,    -         -  60 

INTENDED  ESPECIALLY   FOR  THE  AMERICAN   CLIMATE.      Beins:  a 

Practical  Treatise  on  the  Cultivation  of  the  Grape  Vine  in  each  department  of  Hot 
House,  Cold  Grapery,  Retarding  House  and  Out-door  Culture.  "With  Plans  for  tfr« 
Construction  of  the  liequisite  Buildings,  and  giving  the  hest  methods  for  Heating  the 
same.  Every  department  being  fully  illustrated.  By  WILLIAM  CHORLTON. 

NORTON'S  (JOHN  P.)  ELEMENTS  OF  SCIENTIFIC  AGRICULTURE,       6P 

OR,  THE  CONNECTION  BETWEEN  SCIENCE  AND  THE  ART  OF  PRACTICAL 

Farming.    Prize  Essay  of  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society.    By  JOHN  P. 

NOETON,  M.A.,  Professor  of  Scientific  Agriculture  in  Yale  College.    Adapted  to  the 

use  of  Schools. 

JOHNSTON'S  (J.  F.  W.)  CATECHISM  OF  AGRICULTURAL  CHEM- 
ISTRY AND  GEOLOGY,          -  25 
BY  JAMES  F.  W.  JOHNSTON,  M.A.,  FJl.SS.L.  and  E.,  Honorary 
Member  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of  England,  and  author  of  "Lectures  on 
Agricultural  Chemistry  and  Geology."    "With  an  Introduction  by  JOHN  PITKIN  NOB- 
TON,  M.A.,  late  Professor  of  Scientific  Agriculture  in  Yale  College.    With  notes  find 
additions  by  the  author,  prepared  expressly  for  this  edition,  and  an  Appendix  compiled 
by  the  Superintendent  of  Education  in  Nova  Scotia.    Adapted  to  the  use  of  Schools. 
JOHNSTON'S  (J.  F.  W.)  ELEMENTS  OF  AGRICULTURAL  CHEM- 
ISTRY AND  GEOLOGY, 1  00 

With    a    Complete  Analytical  and  Alphabetical    Index  ami  an 

American  Preface.    By  Hon.  SIMON  BROWK,  Editor  of  the  "New  England  Farmer.' 

JOHNSTON'S  (JAMES  F.  W.)  AGRICULTURAL  CHEMISTRY,  1  25 

LECTURES  ON  THE  APPLICATION  OF  CHEMISTRY  AND  GEOLOGY  TO 

Agriculture.    New  edition,  with  an  Appendix,  containing  the  Author's  Experiment! 

In  Practical  Agriculture 

THE:  COMPLETE  FARMER  AND  AMERICAN  GARDENER,  i  25 

RURAL  ECONOMIST  AND  NEW  AMERICAN  GARDENER  ;   Cont&Miitig 

a  Compendious  Epitome  of  the  most  Important  Branches  of  Agriculture  and  Rural 
Economy ;  with  Practical  Directions  on  the  Cultivation  of  Fruits  and  Vegetables,  in- 
cluding Landscape  and  Ornamental  Gardening.  By  THOMAS  G.  FESSKN^EM.  2  vola. 
in  one. 

fESSENDEN'S  (T.  G.)  AMERICAN  KITCHEN  GARDENER,    -  50 

CONTAINING  DIRECTIONS  FOR  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  VEGETABLES  AND 

Garden  Frutta     Cloth. 


Books  Published  by  A.  0.  MOORE. 

KASH'S  (J.  A.)  PSOGEESSIVE  FAEMEE SO  60 

A  SCIENTIFIC  TREATISE  ON  AGRICULTURAL  CHEMISTRY,  THE  Ge- 
ology of  Agriculture,  on  Plants  and  Animals,  Manures  and  Soils,  applied  to  Practical 
Agriculture ;  with  a  Catechism  of  Scientific  and  Practical  Agriculture.  By  J.  A,  K  ABU 

EEECK'S  BOOK  OF  FLOWEES,  -  1  00 

IN  WHICH  ARE  DESCRIBED  ALL  THE  VARIOUS  HARDY  HERBACEOUS 
Perennials,  Annuals,  Shrubs,  Plants  and  Evergreen  Trees,  with  Directions  for  their 
Cultivation. 

I  ttlTH'S   (C.  H.  J.)  LANDSCAPE  GAEDENING,  PAEKS  AND  PLEASUEE 
GEOUNDS,    -  125 

WITH  PRACTICAL  NOTES  ON  COUNTRY  RESIDENCES,  VILLAS,  PUBLIC 
Parks  and  Gardens.  By  CHARLES  H.  J.  Surra,  Landscape  Gardener  and  Garden 
Architect,  Ac.  With  Notes  and  Additions  by  LEWIS  F.  ALLEN,  author  of  "Rural 
Architecture." 

I  HE  COTTON  PLANTEE'S  MANUAL,  ....  1  00 

BEING  A  COMPILATION  OP  FACTS  FROM  THE  BEST  AUTHORITIES  ON 

the  Culture  of  Cotton,  its  Natural  History,  Chemical  Analysis,  Trade  and  Consumption, 
and  embracing  a  History  of  Cotton  and  the  Cotton  Gin.  By  J.  A.  TURNER. 

UOBBETT'S  AMEEICAN  GAEDENEE,  50 

A  TREATISE  ON  THE  SITUATION,  SOIL,  AND  LAYING-OUT  OF  GARDENS, 

and  the  making  and  managing  of  Hot-Beds  and  Green-Houses,  and  on  the  Propagation 
and  Cultivation  of  the  several  sorts  of  Vegetables,  Herbs,  Fruits  and  Flowers. 

ALLEN  (J.  FISK)  ON  THE  CTJLTUEE  OF  THE  GEAPE,        -  I  00 

A  PRACTICAL  TREATISE  ON  THE  CULTURE  AND  TREATMENT  OF  THB 

Grape  Vine,  embracing  its  History,  with  Directions  for  its  Treatment  in  the  United 
States  of  America,  in  the  Open  Air  and  under  Glass  Structures,  with  and  without 
Artificial  Heat.  By  J.  FISK  ALLEN. 

ALLEN'S  (E.  L )  DISEASES  OF  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS,  -  75 

BEING  A  HISTORY  AND  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  HORSE,  MULE,  CATTLE, 

Sheep,  Swine,  Poultry,  and  Farm  Dogs,  with  Directions  for  their  Management,  Breed. 
ing,  Crossing,  Rearing,  Feeding,  and  Preparation  for  a  Profitable  Market ;  also,  their 
Diseases  and  Remedies,  together  with  full  Directions  for  the  Management  of  the  Dairy, 
and  the  comparative  Economy  and  Advantages  of  \Vorking  Animals,  the  Horse,  Mule, 
Oxen,  &«.  By  R.  L.  ALLEN. 

ALLEN'S  (E.  L.)  AMEEICAN  FAEM  BOOK,        -         -         -  1  00 

THE  AMERICAN  FARM  BOOK  ;  or,  a  Compend  of  American  Agricul- 
ture, being  a  Practical  Treatise  on  Soils,  Manures,  Draining,  Irrigation,  Grasses,  Grain, 
Roots,  Fruits,  Cotton,  Tobacco,  Sugar  Cane,  Rice,  and  every  Staple  Product  of  the 
United  States ;  with  the  Best  Methods  of  Planting,  Cultivating  and  Preparatioa  for 
Market.  Illustrated  with  more  than  100  engravings.  By  R.  L.  ALLEN. 

ALLEN'S  (L.  F.)  ETJEAL  ARCHITE0TUEE ;  -         -  I  25 

BEING  A  COMPLETE  DESCRIPTION  OP  FARM  HOUSES,  COTTAGES,  AND 
Oat  Buildings,  comprising  Wood  Houses,  Workshops,  Tool  Houses,  Carriage  aud 
Wagon  Houses,  Stables,  Smoke  and  Ash  Houses,  Ice  Houses,  Apiaries  or  Bee  Houses, 
Poultry  Houses,  Rabbitry,  Dovecote,  Piggery,  Barns,  and  Sheds  for  Cattle,  &c.,  &c, 
together  with  Lawns,  Pleasure  Grounds,  and  Parks  ;  the  Flower,  Fruit,  and  "Vege- 
table Garden ;  also  useful  and  ornamental  domestic  Animals  for  the  Country  Resident, 
•fee.,  &c  Also,  the  best  method  of  conducting  water  into  Cattle  Yards  and  Houses, 
Beautifully  illustrated. 

WAEING'S  ELEMENTS  OF  AGEICULTUEE ;  ....  IS 

A  BOOK  TOR  YOUNG  FARMERS,  WITH  QUESTIONS  FOR  THB  USB  or 
•duck 


Boolts  Published  by  A.  0.  MOORE. 


PARDEE  (B.  G.)  ON  STRAWBERRY  CULTURE  ;  60  60 

A  COMPLETE  MANUAL  FOR  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  STRAWBERRY  ; 

with  a  description  of  the  best  varieties. 

Also, notkes  of  the  Raspberry,  Blackberry,  Currant,  Goosebe-ty,  and  Grape;  with 
directions  for  their  cultivation,  and  the  selection  of  the  best  varieties.  "  Every  proreai 
here  recommended  has  been  proved,  the  plans  tt  others  tried,  and  the  result  is  Ler« 
given."  With  a  valuable  appendix,  containing  the  observations  and  experieac  d 
•ome  of  the  moat  successful  cultivators  of  these  fruits  in  our  country. 

OUENON  ON  MILCH  COWS ;    -  60 

A  TREATISE  ON  MILCH  Cows,  whereby  the  Quality  and  Quantity  of 

Milk  which  any  Cow  will  give  maybe  accurately  determined  by  observing  Natnra.' 
Marks  or  External  Indications  alone;  the  lergtn  of  time  she  will  continue  to  give 
Milk,  &c.,  &c.  By  M.  FRANCIS  GUKNON,  of  Libonrne,  France.  Translated  by  NICHO- 
LAS  P.  TRIST,  Esc. ;  with  Inti  eduction,  Remarks,  and  Observations  on  the  Cow  and 
the  Dairy,  by  JOHN  8.  SKINNER.  Illustrated  with  numerous  engravings.  Neatly 
done  up  in  paper  covers,  37  cts. 

AMERICAN  POULTRY  YARD ;  ....  1  00 

COMPRISING  THE  ORIGIN,  HISTORY  AND  DESCRIPTION  of  the  different 

Breeds  of  Domestic  Poultry,  with  complete  directions  for  their  Breeding,  Crossing, 
Bearing,  Fattening,  and  Preparation  for  Market ;  including  specific  directions  for 
Caponi/iug  Fowls,  and  for  the  Treatment  of  the  Principal  Diseases  to  which  they  are 
subject,  drawn  from  authentic  sources  and  personal  observation.  Illustrated  v/iih 
numerous  engravings.  By  D.  J.  BROWNE. 

BROWNE'S  (D.  JAY)  FIEL  D  BOOK  OF  MANURES  ;  1  25 

OR,  AMERICAN  MUCK  BOOK  ;  Treating1  of  the  Nature,  Properties, 
Sources,  History,  and  Operations  of  all  the  Principal  Fertilizers  and  Manures  in  Com- 
mon  Use,  with  specific  directions  for  their  Preservation,  and  Application  to  the  Soil 
and  to  Crops;  drawn  from  authentic  sources,  actual  experience,  and  personal  observa- 
tion, as  combined  with  the  Leading  Principles  of  Practical  and  Scientific  Agriculture- 
By  D.  JAY  BROWNE. 

RANDALL'S  (H.  S.)  SHEEP  HUSBANDRY;  .         -         -  125 

WITH  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  DIFFERENT  BREEDS,  and  general  direc- 
tions in  regard  to  Summer  and  Winter  Management,  Breeding,  and  the  Treatment  of 
Diseases,  with  Portraits  and  other  Engravings.  By  HENRY  S.  RANDALL. 

THE  SHEPHERD'S  OWN  BOOK ;      .          -         -         -         -  2  00 

WITH  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  DIFFERENT  BREEDS,  DISEASES  AND  MAX- 
agement  of  Sheep,  and  General  Directions  in  regard  to  Summer  and  Winter  Man- 
agement, Breeding,  and  the  Treatment  of  Diseases ;  with  Illustrative  Engrav  ngs,  by 
YOUATT  &  RANDALL;  embracing  Skinner's  Notes  on  the  Breed  and  Management  of 
thcep  In  the  United  states,  and  on  the  Culture  of  Fine  Wool 

YOUATT  ON  SHEEP , 75 

THEIR  BREED,  MANAGEMENT  AND  DISEASES,  with  Illustrative  En- 
gravings ;  to  which  are  added  Remarks  on  the  Breeds  and  Management  of  Sheep  In 
the  Unit*!  States,  and  on  the  Culture  of  Fine  Wool  In  Silesia.  By  WILLIAM  YOUATT. 

'JTOUATT  AND  MARTIN  ON  CATTLE ;  1  25 

BEING  A  TREATISE  ON  THEIR  BREEDS,  MANAGEMENT,  AND  Di> 
comprislng  a  full  History  of  the  Various  Races;   their  Ori.zin,  Breeding,  and  Merits; 
their  ^parity  for  Beef  and  Milk.     l:y  W.  YOUATT  and  W.  C.  L.  MARTIN.    The  whole 
fcnnin<r  a  Complete  Guide  for  the  Farmer,  tho  Amateur,  and  the  Veterinary  Surgeon, 
with  loO  Illustrations.    Edited  by  AMBUOSK  STEVENS. 

f  O'JATT  ON  THE  HORSE  ;       -  1  f*5 

YOCATT  ON  THE  STRUCTURE  AND  DISEASES  OF  THE  FToRSE,  with 
their  Remedies.  Also,  Practical  Rules  for  Buyers,  Breeders,  Smiths,  A-c.  Edited  by 
W.  C.  SPOOLER,  M.R.C  Y  B.  With  an  account  of  the  Breeds  In  the  United  -  tales,  by 
6.  RANDALL. 


Books  Published  by  A.  0.  MOORE.  7 

fOUATT  AND  MAETIN  ON  THE  HOG ;      -         -         -         -         $0  75 

A  TREATISE  ON  THE  BREEDS.  MANAGEMENT,  AJTD  MEDICAL  TREAT- 

ment  of  Swine,  with  Directions  for  Salting  Pork,  and  Curing  Paeon  and  Earns.  Fy 
WM.  YOUATT,  V.S  ,  and  W-  C  L. MAETIN.  Edited  byAMBBOSE  STEVENS.  Illustrated 
with  Etgravings  drawn  from  life 

BLAKE'S  (REV.  JOHN  I.)  FARMER  AT  HOME;  -  1  25 

A  FAMILY  TEXT  BOOK  FOR  THE  COUNTRY  ;  Deing  a  Cyclopedia  of 

Agricultural  Implements  and  Productions,  and  of  the  more  important  topics  in  Do- 
mestic Economy,  t  cience,  and  Literature,  adapted  to  Rural  Life.  By  Kev.  JOHN  L 

BlAJCE,DD. 

MUNN'S  (B.)  PRACTICAL  LAND  DRAINER;         -  50 

BEING  A  TREATISE  ON  DRAINING  LAND,  in  which  the  most  approved 

systems  of  Drainage  are  explained,  and  their  differences  and  comparative  merits  dis- 
cussed ;  with  full  Directions  for  the  Cutting  and  Making  of  Drains,  with  Kemarks  upon 
the  various  materials  of  which  they  may  be  constructed.  With  many  illustrations,  i  y 
B.  MCNN,  Landscape  Gardener. 

ELLIOTT'S  AMERICAN  FRUIT  GROWER'S  GUIDE  IN    ORCHARD 
AND  GARDEN  ; 1  25 

BEING  A  COMPEXD  OF  THE  HISTORY,  MODES  OF  PROPAGATION,  CUL- 

ture.  <fec.,  of  Fruit  Trees  and  Shrubs,  with  descriptions  of  nearly  all  the  varieties  of 
Pruits  cultivated  in  this  country ;  and  Notes  of  their  adaptation  to  localities,  soils,  and 
a  complete  list  of  iruits  worthy  of  cultivation,  l-'y  F.  R.  ELLIOTT,  Pomologist. 

PRACTICAL  FRUIT,   FLOWER,  AND  KITCHEN  GARDENER'S  COM- 
PANION;   -  1  00 

WITH  A  CALENDAR.     BY  PATRICK  NEILL,  LL.D.,  F.K.S.E.,  Secre 

tary  of  the  Eoyal  Caledonian  Horticultural  Society.  Adapted  to  the  United  States 
from  the  fourth  edition,  revised  and  improved  by  the  author.  Edited  by  G.  EMERSON, 
M  D.,  Editor  of  "The  American  Farmer's  Encyclopedia."  With  Notes  and  Additions 
by  E.  G  PARDEB,  author  of  "Manual  of  the  Strawberry  Culture."  With  illustrations 

STEPHENS'  (HENRY)  BOOK  OF  THE  FARM;  -  4  00 

A  COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO  THE  FARMER,  STEWARD,  PLOWMAN,  CAT- 

tleman,  Shepherd,  Field  Worker,  and  Dairy  Maid.  By  HENRY  STEPHENS.  With  Four 
Hundred  and  Fifty  Illustrations ;  to  which  are  added  Explanatory  Notes,  Kemarks, 
&c.,  by  J.  8.  SKINNER.  Eeally  one  of  the  best  books  a  farmer  can  possess. 

PEDDERS' (JAMES)  FARMERS'  LAND  MEASURER;    -         -  50 

OR,  POCKET  COMPANION  ;  Showing  at  one  view  the  Contents  of  an}7 
Piece  of  Land  from  Dimensions  taken  in  Yards.  With  a  set  of  Useful  Agriculture. 
Tables. 

WHITE'S  (W.  N.)  GARDENING  FOR  THE  SOUTH;      -          -  1  S25 

OR,  THE  KITCHEN  AND  FRUIT  GARDEN,  with  the  best  methods  for 


found  by  trial  adapted  to  the  States  of  the  Union  south  of  Pennsylvania,  with  Garden- 
Ing  Calendars  lor  the  same.  By  WM.  N.  WHITE,  of  Athens,  Georgia. 

EASTWOOD  (B.)  ON  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  THE  CRANBERRY ;          50 

WITH  A  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BEST  VARIETIES.     BY  B.  EASTWOOD, 
"Septimus"  of  the  New  York  Tribune. 

AMERICAN  BEE-KEEPER'S  MANUAL ;       -         -         -         -  100 

BEING  A  PRACTICAL  TREATISE  ON  THE  HISTORY  AND   DOMESTIC 

Economy  of  the  Honey  Bee,  embracing  a  full  frustration  of  the  whole  subject,  with 
the  most  approved  methods  of  managing  this  Insect,  through  every  branch  of  it* 
Cnltu  e;  the  resnlt  of  many  vears' experience.  Illustrated  with  maay  engravings 
By  T.  B.  MIKBB. 


Ifoolcs  Published  by  A.  0.  MOORE. 


THAER'S  lALBERT  DO  AGRICULTURE  -         -         -          $2  CO 

THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  AGRICULTURE,  by  ALBERT  D.  THAER  ;  trans- 
lated by  WILLIAM  SHAW  and  CUTHBEBT  W.  JOHKSON,  Esq.,  F.E.S.  With  a  Memoir 
of  the  Author.  1  vol  8vo. 

This  work  is  regarded  by  those  who  are  competent  to  judge  aa  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  works  that  has  ever  appeared  on  the  subject  of  Agriculture.  At  the  samo 
time  that  it  is  eminently  practical,  it  is  philoso;  hicttl,  and,  even  to  the  general  reader, 
remarkably  entertaining. 

BOUSSINGAULT'S  (J.  B.)  RURAL  ECONOMY,  -  1  25 

IN  ITS  RELATIONS  TO  CHEMISTRY,  PHYSICS,  AND  METEOROLOGY  : 
or,  Chemistry  applied  to  Agriculture.  By  J.  B.  BOUSSINOAULT.  Translated;  with 
notes,  etc.,  by  GEOROK  LAW,  Agriculturist. 

"  The  work  is  the  fruit  of  a  long  life  of  study  and  experiment,  and  its  perusal  will 
•id  the  farmer  greatly  in  obtaining  a  practical  and  scientific  knowledge  of  his  profes- 
sion." 

MYSTERIES  OF  BEE-KEEPING  EXPLAINED  ;     -         -         -  1  00 

BEING  A  COMPLETE  ANALYSIS  OP  THE  WHOLE  SUBJECT,  consisting 

of  the  Natural  History  of  Bees;  Directions  for  obtaining  the  greatest  amount  of  Pur^ 
Surplus  Honey  with  "the  least  possible  expense;  Remedies  for  losses  given,  and  the 
Science  of  Luck  fully  illustrated;  the  result  of  more  than  twenty  years'  experience  in 
extensive  Apiaries.  By  M  QCINBV. 

THE  COTTAGE  AND  FARM  BEE-KEEPER  ;  50 

A  PRACTICAL  WORK,  by  a  Country  Cnrate. 

WEEKS  (JOHN  M.)  ON  BEES.—  A  MANUAL  ;  50 

OR,  AN  EASY  METHOD  OF  MANAGING  BEES  IN  THE  MOST  PROFITABLE 
manner  to  their  owner;  with  infallible  rules  to  prevent  their  destruction  by  the  Moih 
With  an  appendix,  by  WOOSTER  A.  FLANDERS. 

THE  ROSE;        -         -  50 

BEING  A  PRACTICAL  TREATISE  ON  THE  PROPAGATION,  CULTIVATION, 

and  Management  «f  the  Rose  in  all  Seasons;  with  a  11«t  of  Choice  and  Approved  Varie- 
ties. adapted  to  the  Climate  of  the  United  States;  to  which  is  added  full  directions  for 
the  Treatment  of  the  Dahlia.  Illustrated  by  Engravings. 

MOORE'S  RURAL  HAND  BOOKS,        .....  1  26 

FIRST  SERIES,  containing  Treatises  on  — 

THE  HORSE,  THE  PESTS  OF  THE  FARM, 

Tna  HOG,  DOMESTIC  FOWLS,  and 

TUB  HONEY  BEE,  THE  Cow, 

SECOND  SERIES,  containing  —  1  25 

£VKUT  LADT  H«R  own  FLOWER  GARDENER,       ESSAT  ON  MANURES, 
iCr/EMENTs  or  AGRIOULTUBF,  AMERICAN  KITCHEN  GARDENEB, 

I&IRD  FANCIER,  AMERICAN  ROSE  CCLTCBIST. 

THIRD  SERIES,  containing  —        .....  1  25 

MILES  ON  THE  HORSE'S  FOOT,  VINE  DRESSER'S  MANUAL, 

THE  RABBIT  FANCIER,  BKE-KEBI-VB'B  CHART, 

WEEKS  ON  BEES,  CHEMISTRY  MADE  EAST. 

FOURTH  SERIES,  containing  —       -  ...  1  25 

PERSOZ  ON  THI  VIM*,  HOOPER'S  DOG  AND  Gun, 

LIKBIG  B  FAMILIAR  LETTERS,  SKILLFUL  UOI-BEWIFH, 

BROWNE  s  MEMOIRS  OF  INDIAN  CORN. 

RICHARDSON  ON  LOGS  :  THEIR  ORIGIN  AND  VARIETIES.     .  60 

Pi  '.MOTIONS    ASTO  TIIKIK  (iKXKKAL    M  ANAf  ,'KMENT.       With 


. 

original  anecdotes.    Also.  Complete  Instructions  as  to  Treatment  under  Disease.     By 
H  IX  RICHARDSON.    Illustrated  with  numerous  wood  engravings. 
This  is  not  only  a  cheap  work,  but  one  of  the  best  evw  -jublished  on  the  Dog. 


Books  Published  by  A.  0.  MOORE.  9 

EJEBIG'S  (JUSTUS)  FAMILIAR  LECTURES  ON  CHEMISTRY,  $0  50 

AND  ITS  RELATION  TO  COMMERCE,  PHYSIOLOGY,  AND  AGRICULTURE. 

Edlied  by  JOHN  GABDESEB,  M.D. 
BEMENT'S  (C.  N.)  RABBIT  FANCIER;  ....  50 

A  TREATISE  ON  THE  BREEDING,  BEARING,  FEEDING,  AND  GENERAL 
Management  of  Babbits,  with  remarks  upon  their  diseases  and  remedies,  to  which  are 
added  full  directions  for  the  construction  of  Hutches,  Babbitries,  &c.,  together  with 
recipes  for  cooking  and  dressing  for  the  Table.  Beautifully  illustrated. 

.THOMPSON  (R.  D.)  ON  THE  FOOD  OF  ANIMALS  .         -  75 

EXPERIMENTAL  RESEARCHES  ON  THE  FOOD  OF  ANIMALS  AND  THE 
Fattening  of  Cattle ;  with  remarks  on  the  Food  of  Man.  Based  upon  Experiments 
undertaken  by  order  of  the  British  Government,  bv  EOBEET  DUNDAS  THOMI  SON,  M.D.t 
Lecturer  on  Practical  Chemistry,  University  of  Glasgow. 

THE  WESTERN  FRUIT  BOOK ;  .....  125 

BEING  A  COMPEND  OF  THE  HISTORY,  MODES  OF  PROPAGATION,  CUL- 
ture,  &c.,  of  Fruit  Trees  and  Shrubs,  Ac.,  Ac.    By  F.  B.  ELLIOTT. 

THE  SKILLFUL  HOUSEWIFE ;     -  -  50 

OR  COMPLETE  GUIDE  TO  DOMESTIC  COOKERY,  TASTE,  COMFORT,  AND 

Economy,  embracing  659  recipes  pertaining  to  Household  Duties,  the  care  of  Health, 
Gardening,  Birds,  Education  of  Children,  Ac.,  &c.  By  Mrs  L.  G.  AEELL. 

THE  AMERICAN  FLORIST'S  GUIDE; 75 

COMPRISING  THE  AMERICAN  ROSE  CULSURIST  AND  EVERY  LADY  HEB 

own  Flower  Gardener. 
EVERY  LADY  HER  CY/N  FLOWER  GARDENER;  -         -  50 

ADDRESSED  TO  THE  INDUSTRIOUS  AND  ECONOMICAL  ONLY  ;  containing 

simple  and  practical  Directions  for  Cultivating  Plants  and  Flowers;  also,  Hints  for  the 
Management  of  Flowers  in  Booms,  with  brief  Botanical  Descriptions  <,t  Plants  and 
Flowers.  The  whole  in  plain  and  simple  language.  By  LOUISA  j  OUNSOK. 

FISH  CULTURE; *    °° 

A  TREATISE  ON  THE  ARTIFICIAL  PROPAGATION  OF  CERTAIN  KINDS  OP 

Fish  with  the  description  and  habits  of  such  kinds  as  are  most  suitable  for  pisciculture. 
Also  directions  for  the  most  successful  methods  of  Angling  illustrated  with  numerous 
engravings     By  THEODATUS  GAELIOK,  M.D.,  Vice  President  of  Cleveland  Academy 
of  Natural  Science. 
FLINT  ON  GRASSES ; 

A  PRACTICAL  TREATISE  ON  GRASSES  AND  FORAGE  PLANTS,  COMPRIS- 

ine  their  natural  history,  comparative  nutritive  value,  methods  of  cultivating,  cutting, 
and  curing,  and  the  management  of  grass  lands.  By  CHAS.  L.  FLINT,  A.M.,  Secretary 
of  Mass.  State  Board  of  Agriculture. 

WARDER  ON  HEDGES  AND  EVERGREENS ;  -         -          1    00 

A  MANUAL  ON  LIVE  FENCES,  WITH  PARTICULAR  DIRECTIONS  FOR  THEIR 

planting  culture  and  trimming,  especially  with  regard  to  the  Madura  hedges  and 
how  toWke  it.  Also  an  essay  on  Evergreens,  their  varieties,  propagation  transplant- 
ing and  culture  in  the  United  States.  By  JOHN  A.  WABDEB,  M.D.,  President  of 
Cincinnati  Horticultural  Society. 


1C  BooJcs  Published  by  A.  0.  MOORE. 


M  0  ORE'S 

01  Jjtaral  ani  Domestic  $c0tt0m]j. 


^U  arranged  and  adapted  to  the  Use  of  American  Farmer*. 

PRICE    25    CENTS    EACH. 

HOGS; 

THEIR  ORIGIN,  VARIETIES  AND  MANAGEMENT,  with  a  View  to  Pro- 

fit, and  Treatment  under  Disease:  also  Plain  Directions  relative  to  the  most  approved 
modes  of  preserving  their  Flesh.  By  H.  D.  KICHARDSON,  author  of  "The  Hive  »nd  the 
Honey  Bee,"  &<!.,  &c.  With  illustrations—  12mo. 

THE  HIVE  AND  THE  HONEY  BEE; 

WITH  PLAIN  DIRECTIONS  FOR  OBTAINING  A  CONSIDERABLE  ANNUAL 

Income  from  this  branch  of  Kural  Economy;  also  an  Account  of  the  Diseases  of  Bee* 
»nd  their  Kennedies,  and  Remarks  as  to  their  Enemies,  and  the  best  mede  of  protecting 
the  Hives  from  their  attacks.  By  H.  D.  KICHARDSON.  With  illustrations. 

DOMESTIC  FOWLS  ; 

.  THEIR  NATURAL  HISTORY,  BREEDING,  REARING,  AND  GENERAL 
Man»*«ment.  By  H.  D.  RICHARDSON,  author  of  "  The  Natural  History  of  the  Fossil 
Deer,"  Ac.  With  illustrations. 

THE  HOLSE  ; 

THEIR  ORIGIN  AND  VARIETIES  ;  WITH  PLAIN  DIRECTIONS  AS  TO  THE 
Breeding,  Rearing,  and  General  Management,  with  Instructions  as  to  the  Treatment  of 
Disease.  Handsomely  illustrated—  12mo.  By  H.  D.  RICHABDSON. 

THE  ROSE; 

THE  AMERICAN  ROSE  CULTURIST  ;  being  a  Practical  Treatise  on  the 
Pronagatt-m,  Cultivation,  and  Management  in  all  Seasons,  dec.  With  fall  directions  for 
the  Treatment  of  the  Dahlia. 

THE  PESTS  OF  THE  FARM  ; 

WITH  INSTRUCIONS  FOR  THEIR  EXTIRPATION  ;  being  a  Manual  of 
Plain  DJwictions  for  the  certain  Destruction  of  every  description  of  Vermin.  With 
numerous  illustrations  on  Wood. 

AN  ESSAY  ON  MANURES  ; 

SUBMITTED  TO  THE  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  SOCIETY  FOB 
Promoting  Agriculture,  for  their  Premium.  By  SAMUEL  H.  DAWA. 

THE  AMERICAN  BIRD  FANCIER  ; 

CONSIDERED  WITH  REFERENCE  TO  THE  BREEDING,  REARING,  FEED- 
Ingr,  Management,  and  Peculiarities  of  Cage  and  House  Birds.  Illustrated  with  Enerar 
ings.    By  D.  JAY  BBOWXK. 
CHEMISTRY  MADE  EASY  ; 

FOR  THE  USE  OF  FARMERS.     By  J.  TOPHAM. 
ELEMENTS  OF  AGRICULTURE  ; 

•  TBANSLATED  FROM  THE  FRENCH,  and  Adapted  to  the  use  of  American 

F»rra«r8.    By  F.  Q.  SKIMNEK. 


Books  Published  by  A.  0.  MOORE.  11 

THE  HORSE'S  FOOT  AND  HOW  TO  KEEP  IT  SOUND ; 

WITH  CUTS,  illustrating  the  Anatomy  of  the  Foot,  and  containing 
valuable  hints  on  shoeing  and  stable  management,  both  in  health  and  disease.  By  WIL- 
LIAM MILES. 

THE  SKILLFUL  HOUSEWIFE; 

Or,  Complete  Guide  to  Domestic  Cookery,  Taste,  Comfort,  and  Econ- 
omy, embracing  659  recipes  pertaining  to  Household  Duties,  the  care  of  Health,  Oar. 
dening,  Birds,  Education  of  Children,  &c.,  &c.  By  Mrs.  L.  G.  ABELL. 

THE  AMERICAN  KITCHEN  GARDENER ; 

CONTAINING  DIRECTIONS  FOR  THE  CULTIVATION  OF  VEGETABLES  aud 

6«rden  Fruits.    By  T.  G.  FESSENDEN. 
CHINESE  SUGAR  CANE  AND  SUGAR  MAKING  ; 

ITS  HISTORY,  CULTURE,  AND  ADAPTATION  TO  THE  SOIL,  CLIMATE, 

and  Economy  of  the  United  States,  with  an  account  of  various  processes  of  Manufac- 
turing Sugar.  Drawn  from  authentic  sources  by  CHARLES  F.  STANSBURY,  A.M.,  late 
Commissioner  at  the  Exhibition  of  all  Nations  at  London. 

PERSOZ'  CULTURE  OF  THE  VINE  ; 

A  NEW  PROCESS  FOR  THE  CULTURE  OF  THE  VINE,  by  PERSOZ,  Pro- 
fessor to  the  Faculty  of  Sciences  of  Strasbourg ;  directing  Professor  of  the  SchooJ 
of  Pharmacy  of  the  same  city.    Translated  by  J.  O'C.  BAECLAY,  Surgeon  U.S.  N. 
THE  BEE  KEEPER'S  CHART; 

BEING  A  BRIEF  PRACTICAL  TREATISE  ON  THE  INSTINCT,  HABITS,  and 
Management  of  the  Honey  Bee,  in  all  its  various  branches,  the  result  of  many  years' 
practical  experience,  whereby  the  author  has  been  enabled  to  divest  the  subject  of 
much  that  has  been  consideed  mysterious  and  difficult  to  overcome,  and  lender  h 
more  sure,  profitable,  and  interesting  to  every  one,  than  it  has  heretofore  been.  By 
E.  W.  PHELPS. 

EVERY  LADY  HER  OWN  FLOWER  GARDENER; 

ADDRESSED  TO  THE  INDUSTRIOUS  AND  ECONOMICAL  ONLY  ;  containing 

Simple  and  Practical  Directions  for  Cultivating  Plants  «nd  Flowers ;  also,  Hints  for 
the  Management  of  Flowers  in  Kooms,  with  brief  Botanical  Descriptions  of  Plants  and 
Flowers.  The  vhole  in  plain  and  simple  language.  By  LOUISA  JOHNSON. 

THE  COW ;  DAIRY  HUSBANDRY  AND  CATTLE  BREEDING. 

By  M.  M.  MILBURN,  and  revised  by  H.  D.  EICHAEDSON  and  AMBROSE 

With  Illustrations. 


WILSON  ON  THE  CULTURE  OF  FLAX ; 

ITS  TREATMENT,  AGRICULTURAL  AND  TECHNICAL  ;  delivered  before 
the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society,  at  the  Annual  Fair  »t  Saratoga,  In  Septem- 
ber  last,  by  JOHN  WILSON,  late  President  of  the  Royal  Agricultural  College  at  Ciren 
cester,  England. 

WEEKS  ON  BEES:    A  MANUAL. 

OR,  AN  EASY  METHOD  OF  MAN  AGING  J*EES  IN  THE  MOST  PROFITA* 
ble  manner  to  their  owner,  with  infallible  rules  to  prevent  their  rtflfltrnctiop  by  t'at 
Moth ;  with  an  Appendix  by  WOOSTEB  A.  FLANDBBS. 

REEMELIN'S  (CHAS.)  VINE  DRESSER'S  MANUAL ; 

CONTAINING  FULL  INSTRUCTIONS  as  to  LOCATION  and  SOIL  ;  Prepara- 
tion of  Ground;  Selection  and  Propagation  of  Vin'*;  the  Treatrrv^t  of  a  Young 
Vineyard ;  trimming  and  training  the  vines ;  manures  and  the  making  ef  *  tee,  Erery 
department  illustrated. 

HYDE'S  CHINESE  SUGAR  CANE; 

CONTAINING  ITS  HISTORY,  MODE  OF  CULTURE,  MANUFACTURE  of  the 
Sugar,  &c. ;  with  Reports  of  its  success  in  different  parts  of  the  United  Sfcatefc 


12  Books  Published  ly  A.  0.  MOORE. 


BEMENT'S  (C.  M.)  BABBIT  FANCIER ; 

A  TREATISE  ON  THE  BREEDING,  REARING,  FEEDING,  AND  GENERAL 
Management  of  Rabbits,  with  remarks  upon  their  diseases  and  remedies;  to  which 
are  added  luil  directions  for  the  construction  of  Hutches,  Babbitries,  &c.,  together  with 
recipes  for  cooking  and  dressing  for  the  table. 

RICHARDSON  ON  DOGS :    THEIR  ORIGIN  AND  VARIETIES  ; 

DIRECTIONS  AS  TO  THEIR  GENERAL  MANAGEMENT.      With  numerous 
original  anecdotes.    Also  Complete  Instructions  as  to  Treatment  under  Disease.    By 
H.  D.  EICHAUDSON.    Illustrated  with  numerous  wood  engravings. 
This  is  not  only  a  cheap,  but  one  of  the  best  works  ever  published  on  the  Dog. 

LIEBIG'S  (JUSTUS)  FAMILIAR  LETTERS  ON  CHEMISTRY ; 

AND  ITS  RELATION  TO  COMMERCE,  PHYSIOLOGY,  AND  AGRICULTURE. 

Edited  by  JOHN  GAKDENER,  M.  D. 
THE  DOG  AND  GUN  ; 

A  FEW  LOOSE  CHAPTERS  ON  SHOOTING,  among  which  will  be  found 
some  Anecdotes  and  Incidents.  Also  Instructions  for  Dog  Breaking,  and  interesting 
letters  from  Sportsmen.  BY  A  BAD  SHOT. 

THE  PRESERVATION  OF  FOOD  ; 

THE  VARIOUS  METHODS  OF  PRESERVING  MEATS,  FRUITS,  VEGETABLES. 
Milk,  Butter,  Grain,  <kc.,  by  drying,  smoking,  pickling,  and  other  processes.  By  E. 
GOODBICH  SMITH. 


